The Divine Savings Plan

Today's theme just might make most of us squirm a little bit. Truth be told, we are a bit anxious if anyone begins to ask too much about our finances. We're fairly quick to whimper a bit when markets slide the wrong way, bills pile up, and income slows; but if anyone suggests that our worst days are wealth in other parts of the world we become uneasy and don't want to hear it.

So what Jesus has to say in the section of scripture that we're going to look at today deserves to have our attention. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth... but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven." If you're reading this before the service begins, please start thinking about what that means to you. And if you get into the church web site tomorrow for your personal follow-up or as a part of a small group, the implications of that divine directive can start some important thinking.

One of the national stories that has caused most of us to perk up our ears this week comes from South Dakota, where a young, down-on-his-luck rancher spent $15 and won the lottery. He took the cash; and after paying the taxes he has $88 million. How many of us started calculating what we would do with that money? I confess. This morning (Tuesday) I asked myself, "Would I just give $5 million to the church or give $5.8 million and retire the whole building debt? Should I give $10 million to the endowment fund at Milligan College or $5 million toward the present capital campaign? Let's see, if I pay $1 million for an immediate annuity that should take care of Judy and me just fine in retirement."

Let's not labor the point. But we know that lottery winners have had hundreds of times more pains than blessings. And money not earned almost always turns sour. And life would never be the same, not for the better.

Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Little treasure or big treasure! It's all the same. Where I put my investments, my affections follow. And I can't serve two masters.