It's All in the Perspective

It's funny what we remember.  I think I speak for most of us when I say that my young childhood memories are few and far between, until I reach a certain age.  My memories provide nothing that resembles a comprehensive perspective of my life or my family's life; instead my memories are more like an unorganized photo album of random instances.  Do you ever wonder what causes us to remember some things more than others?  Is my three-year-old brother going to remember anything from this week?  (Wait - I can answer that: Do I remember anything from when I was three?)  My memories of a church we attended when I was about nine are very limited.  One memory that - for whatever reason - is implanted in my brain is sitting in the pew one Sunday morning during the offering.  I distinctly remember wondering just how the ushers or the pastor were going to get the money to God.  From my perspective, it would be quite hard for the pastor to reach all the way to heaven.  I completely understood that all these people were giving the money to God, but I just couldn't figure out how the money actually got to Him.

   When Jesus encouraged His followers to do good to others, He assured them (and us) with a promise: When we reach heaven, we will be praised for our charitable acts to others because "'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me'" (Matthew 25:40).  When we give to others, we are really giving to God.  What an amazing picture!  When we give to those who desperately need financial help here on earth, we are really giving a gift to our Father in heaven.

"Suppose you're giving to help African children with AIDS.  When you see an article on the subject, you're hooked.  If you're sending money to plant churches in India and an earthquake hits India, you watch the news and fervently pray.  As surely as the compass needle follow north, your heart will follow your treasure.  Money leads; hearts follow." - Randy Alcorn, The Treasure Principle

How can you tell a foreigner from a citizen?  I'm sure there are many ways, depending on the situation.  Foreign guests may speak with an accent or wear different clothes.  They may prefer different food or have different interests.  They might spend their money on different things.  How we spend our money is a witness to everyone around us where our hearts and citizenship are.  As Christians, we are citizens of a heavenly kingdom (Philippians 3:20-21).  Would an American citizen traveling through India prefer to accumulate rupees or dollars?  Would he seek to build up a stash of money that is only worth something in the country he is visiting?  Or would he want a full bank account in the land that he calls home?  It's so easy to forget that we are only here on earth for a short time, and that our real home is heaven.  One way to remind us of our eternal destination is to use our earthly currency to gain heavenly treasures.
   Obedience always brings blessing (though not always immediately).  While we experience great joy in giving to God when we give to others here on earth, our full reward is waiting in heaven for us.  By giving to God (and His children), we build up for ourselves treasure in heaven - that will always be valuable whether the stock market climbs or crashes.  In giving to others, a giver grows closer to God and receives treasure in heaven.  It's a win-win!
   Back in that church pew, my childlike perspective pictured God in heaven accepting literal money from His people.  Little did I comprehend that God was actually giving to us.  Giving is itself a gift - we get to be part of God's plan and we are rewarded in heaven.  What better investment could there be?

"'Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.'" Luke 12:32-34

Much of the Christian life seems paradoxical at first glance.  Whoever loses his life will find it.  Whoever strikes your cheek, turn to him the other also.  A king in a manger.  Moneybags that never age, but are not used to accumulate earthly gold.  Everyone in this world is a fellow traveler speeding their way toward eternity.  Unfortunately, many, many travelers are preparing for their eternal destination with temporal currency, as they hoard their wealth instead of giving it away.  What many people see as paradoxical and foolish is really the only wise choice - when your perspective is right.