The stock market goes up and down. We gain money, and we lose money. The poor man today may be rich tomorrow; and the rich man today may be poor tomorrow. There is only one safe place to store our treasure, and that is heaven.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

One way to store treasure in heaven is to give. God does not want us to sit on our money or to over-invest in the things we'll only have here on earth; he wants us to actively invest in that which will last forever. We find it so easy to invest ten percent in maybe 10 or 20 years of retirement here on earth - why is it so hard to invest ten percent in an eternal life in heaven?

God has called the Church to spread the good news of Jesus Christ, thus affecting the eternity of millions of people. The Church simply cannot do this without money, and God has decided that the Church is to be funded by those who follow Christ. We get so concerned about ourselves that we forget the consequences of not giving. Who knows how many people are suffering though this life or will spend eternity apart from God because of our disobedience? Who knows how many blessings - financially and spiritually, now and in eternity - we are missing out on when we fail to give? We need not fear running out of money, because God has promised to provide for our needs, even to provide more than we need. Don't feel guilty, and certainly don't give out of guilt. Be generous, and give because you love God, you love people, and you believe God will keep his promises.