Now or Forever?

“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." Matt 6:19-21

On Sunday I talked about Investing for Eternity. If you weren't there I encourage you to check it out. Two options now . . . on audio or video.

As I was preparing last week and re-reading Randy Alcorn's The Treasure Principle, I came across this great story from time he spent in Egypt that summarizes the heart of the passage above.

In Cairo he was taken to the tomb of a man named William Borden. It read 'William Borden 1887-1913.'
Borden was a Yale graduate and heir to great wealth, but rejected a life of ease because of a burden to take the gospel to the Muslims. He gave away hundreds of thousands of dollars to missions and then after only 4-months of zealous ministry in Egypt himself he contract spinal meningitis and died at 25.
His tombstone also told of his great sacrifices for the Kingdom of God and great love for the Muslim people. It then ended like this: "Apart from faith in Christ, there is no explanation for such a life."

Right after visiting Borden's grave they went to the Egyptian National Museum where they visited the King Tut exhibit. It was amazing. The boy king who was only 17 when he died was buried with solid gold chariots and tons of gold. His gold coffin was found withing gold tombs within gold tombs within gold tombs.
The Egyptians believed in an afterlife where they could take their wealth with them. But all the treasures intended for Tut's after life stayed right where they were buried.


What a contrast, two young men taken at an early age. Tut's life tragic. He lived in opulence but now without Christ. He discovered a truth too late, he couldn't take his treasures with him.

On the other hand Borden lived, and died, modestly in the back alleys for the glory of the King. And he was triumphant with his investments because even though he couldn't take them with them, he sent them ahead.

How are you managing your investments? For Now . . . or Forever?