When you think about what you will give to the Lord’s work each week, you should consider your offerings from the perspective of eternity. Let me tell you what I mean.
Several years ago, in the old American Lutheran Church, the Division for Missions had a program by which congregations here in this country, could help congregations in other countries, construct a church building. One of the countries was Cameroon, where there was a congregation in the city of Meiganga. They could build their own church with local workers and mostly local supplies—wood and handmade bricks. But they needed $3,000 for a tin roof and some hardware. I presented this opportunity to the congregation, and in a short time we raised the money. Some months later we received a photograph of the completed church building, and we were very happy to be a part of that project. (The new church was similar to the one pictured above)
Some months later I was back at my old school, Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, for a week-long continuing education course. One day, I met Adamou, who told me he was a pastor from Cameroon, now at the seminary doing some graduate work. I said, “Well that is interesting; our congregation just sent money to help build a church in Cameroon.” Adamou said, “Well that is interesting; my congregation in Cameroon just built a church with some money from a Lutheran congregation in America. Do you know the name of the town that the church was in?” “Yes,” I said, “it was Meiganga.” “Oh, my brother,” he said, “that is my congregation! I am so glad to meet you. We all thank you for your help.” During the rest of that week Adamou and I became good friends. We arranged for him and his family to visit my congregation, and it was a wonderful day. Many years later he was again back in Minnesota for a meeting, and we got together again. It was a blessing for both of us to have that connection.
I think God may have arranged that meeting as a foretaste of many such meetings God might arrange for us in heaven. We might meet someone who says, “Oh, you packed meals for Feed My Starving Children?–those meals kept me alive throughout my childhood when there was a severe drought in my village…” And another might say, “You contributed to Voice of the Martyrs?– they helped me move to a new village after my husband was killed by our own neighbors for preaching the Gospel…” And still another, “You were a part of The Timothy Initiative?—my whole family, and then our whole village came to Christ through that ministry…” and so on. And in return, I will say, “Each month I would read in those organizations’ newsletters about how your churches remained strong amidst much suffering and persecution, and I was always inspired and strengthened in my own faith by you…” and so on. I look forward to those conversations. I think this is what Jesus had in mind when in Matthew he talked about laying up for ourselves treasure in heaven.
With that in mind, listen to these words of Randy Alcorn from his book ‘The Treasure Principle,’ p. 43 (paraphrased): “He who lays up treasures on earth will, if he lives long enough, inevitably spend his later years having to let go of those treasures, or at least the enjoyment of them. As he moves toward his end, to him, death is loss, and he will be in despair. But he who lays up treasures in heaven looks forward to eternity. He is moving daily toward his treasures. To him, death is gain. He who spends his life moving toward his treasures has reason to rejoice. Are you despairing or rejoicing?”
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Matthew 6:19-21 — Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
I Timothy 6:17-19 — Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
Deuteronomy 16:17: Each of you shall give as you are able, bringing a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.
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Everlasting Father, we know that the whole earth is yours, and everything in it belongs to you. We recognize that all we have is from you and will one day return to you. With joy and thanksgiving we offer back to you a portion of what you have first given us–our selves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Adapted from a Lutheran hymnal offering prayer.
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Lord Jesus Christ, you warned us not to store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal, but to store up treasures in heaven. Guard our hearts so that we may not be tempted to live for ourselves alone, but may serve you with what we have been given. May we, in bringing our offerings to you now, store up treasure in your kingdom. In your name we pray. Amen.
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Everyone will be forgotten, nothing we do will make any difference, and all good endeavors, even the best, will come to naught. UNLESS THER IS A GOD. If the God of the Bible exists, and there is a True Reality beneath and behind this one, then this life is not the only life, then every good endeavor, even the simplest ones, pursued in response to God’s calling, can matter forever. –Tim Keller
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Here is this same message in a song, as Ivan Parker sings “Thank You” on Gaither Music TV:
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