where do you keep it?...

proverbs 11.24-25 (ms), the world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. the one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.

this principle is taught over and over again in scripture. give and it will be given back to you. just like seeds, the more we sow the more we reap. there are more promises in the bible related to giving than any other subject. it's incredible what GOD promises when we learn to give. HE wants us to learn to be givers because HE is a giver.

if we are going to learn to become like GOD we've got to learn to be giving people. no matter how wealthy i've become, i'm not financially free until i've learned to give. in order to live abundantly, i've got to give abundantly.

now you've heard many people say, "you can't take it with you." that's very true, but you can send it on ahead. matthew 6.20-21 (ms), don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars. it's obvious, isn't it? the place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.

in heaven there are no moths or rust of things james mentioned. there aren't any up there.

heard about a guy who died and got to heaven and he say all these mansions and then one little shack and he said, "is that where i'm suppose to live? why?" answer: that's all the building material you sent ahead.

how do you send it on ahead? the only way you can store up treasure in heaven is by investing it in people who are going there. there are only two things that are going to last forever: the word of GOD and people. everything else is going to burn up in the judgment. invest your time and money in the word of GOD and people. when you invest in these two things then you will store up treasures in heaven.

JESUS told us that when you use money and invest it in people who come to know HIM, you're making friends for eternity. when you get to heaven, they'll say they are there because of you. many of you give to your church and many people will be in heaven because of your church.

there will be people up there who will say to you, because you gave i am here in heaven. JESUS says use your affluence for good influence. then people will welcome you into eternity.

some thoughts from the front porch...