I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. Luke 16:9
“Do you not see how people throw away their wealth for a moment’s glory, for the shouts and praise of the crowds in the theatre, at sporting events, at fights with wild beasts in the arena? Where can you get that sort of glory for yourself if you hold on to your money or spend it meanly? God will give his approbation; the angels will praise you; all people who have existed since the beginning of the world will call you blessed. You will receive eternal glory and the crown of righteousness as a prize for rightly disposing of your wealth – wealth that in any case cannot last and must decay.”
Basil of Caesarea (330-379) in Homily De Caritate, 3, 6: PG 31, 266-267, 275.
Approbation is approval or praise. Imagine if today was your last day on earth.
Pause right now and picture it. You are in line waiting to meeting Jesus. The queue may be filled the Ukrainian followers of Jesus whose lives were snuffed out by enemy attacks.
I saw a funeral procession of cars yesterday in Khust that brought a tear to my eye.
Hopefully you will have made friends for yourself with earthly money, so that many will welcome you into your eternal dwellings. The time to make the choice is now.
And notice the new header photo. Look closely. What do you see at the base of the trees at this orchard in Khust? It was located next to the place we ate lunch and caught my attention.
The daffodils bring the right insects to the trees to eat pests that might harm the fruit and add nutrients to the soil. I learned this from Dr. Milan Hluchy who has joined me on this trip.
He’s been a great helper. He speaks Russian, which all Ukrainians know, and so he’s been like a helper and a translator assisting me from morning to night and helping carry my bags.
Milan is like this flower. We can all be like this flower. Plant ourselves by trees to make them fruitful.
I am thankful he has planted his life next to me. Please consider planting yourself by the tree of GTP. Click here to become a monthly giver or to make a special gift to help cover unanticipated expenses in Ukraine.
And thanks for your prayers for our strategic meetings in Khust. They could not have gone any better! Stay tuned or a full report. Now safely in Lviv for two meetings then to Ivano-Frankivsk tomorrow.
Adding a quick message to request prayer for safety and support.
Air raids both in the middle of the night and this morning (see my Facebook post) in Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk damaged infrastructure.
The noise of the sirens threw Jenni and I out of bed at 3:45am. Raids continued this morning. In this somewhat tense moment when locals say conflict is escalating, just moments ago, Jenni and I said goodbye.
She will teach this week at the seminary in Lviv. I will begin my loop around the country with strategic meetings and to aid frontline workers.
This strikes make our support of Christian workers planting churches and aiding broken people more important. With more infrastructure destroyed, the workers resources to aid the hurting.
Pray for safe passage for Milan and me to Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Kryvyi Rih, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Irpin, and back to Lviv.
As we enter the passion week, consider how Christ laid down His life for you, and join us in sacrificing financially on behalf of those in great need. God sees and “will give his approbation.”
This is rightly disposing of your wealth.