This famous quote comes from Jim Elliot:
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
So, are you no fool?
A few years back I picked up a great little book by Randy Alcorn, The Treasure Principle. Each day I’ll be giving you a Biblical principle that he shares in his book. The first principle reverberates a powerful truth that Jim Elliot knew all about.
You can’t take it with you–
but you can send it on ahead.
Before you read our passage for the day, click on this site, enter your annual salary and see where you rank in the world: Global Rich List
Now you’re ready to read Paul’s challenge to a young pastor to pass on to his church:
“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.” (1 Timothy 6:17-19 NIV)
I’m not even going to try and explain all of this (because I can’t), but know this: When we use our temporary stuff to have an eternal impact, God is honored and we “send it on ahead.” Crazy cool is what that is!
This coming weekend we ALL have the opportunity to be outrageously generous. We’ve set a goal for our weekend offering to be $200,000 as we tangibly launch The Epic Life. That doesn’t happen unless we ALL bring something to God that comes from a heart that is rich in good deeds, generous and willing to share.
Prayer thought:
When I was young in my (Maegan) faith, Heaven was an alternative to hell at the end of my life, and that was all. There was no sermon preached, no Scripture read, that made me desire the eternal over what was here now, tangible, comfortable, familiar, and right in front of my face. Words alone were not powerful enough, but my relationship with Jesus was. The more I sought after Jesus, the more valuable He became and the scales began to tip in favor of eternity. Eternity became my motivation.
When we value this life, this earth, this family and these friends more than we value eternity, the promises of building a kingdom and having an eternal impact might feel empty. If we are in it for the salvation at the end and nothing more, than sending it on ahead means nothing to us. If you struggle with a lack of hunger for what is eternal, just ask. Ask for that hunger, passion, insight, wisdom, and revelation.
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7 NIV)
