A Parable

There once lived an average man. He had an average job and made an average salary. But he had an extraordinary friend! This friend was the president of a very large corporation and a very smart businessman. One day, the friend came to the man and said, “You and I have been friends for a long time, haven’t we?”

“Yes, we have,” said the man.

“Do you trust me?” said the friend. “Do you think I know the business world?”

“Yes, I do,” said the man.

“Well,” said the friend, “I am going to give you some very valuable information. And if you really trust me, you will follow my advice.”

At this, the man became perplexed and tense. What was his friend going to ask him to do'

“My company,” continued the friend, “will, within the next year or so, make a very large business deal. If you buy stock now, I can promise you a 10,000% return. My advice to you is to scrape together every cent you can spare and buy stock. Every month, save out only what you need to live on and invest the rest in stock. I know my company and I can guarantee you this return.”

So the man did as his friend suggested. Every month he bought more stock—forgoing the luxury of the latest car or the brand name tennis shoes. And, just as the friend promised, within the year, the company made the deal and the man became very, very wealthy.

We have only one lifetime to “buy stock” in God’s kingdom for eternity. When we give to His work, the money is not spent and gone—it is invested. And Christ promises fantastic returns in heaven! The Bible says, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”

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