Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Luke 12:32-34
“Let’s suppose, you see, that the kingdom of heaven is up for sale, for the price of almsgiving. A most fertile and valuable estate has been put up for us to buy; one which, after we have acquired it and come into possession of it, we won’t leave to some successors on our decease, but will always remain in possession of, never to leave it, never to move out of at all. A splendid estate, an estate worth buying indeed! It remains for you to inquire how much it’s worth, in case you aren’t worth what it’s worth, and are not able to buy it, though you are most eager to get it. You may not think you can make it, so I’ll tell you its price: it’s worth whatever you have.”
Augustine of Hippo (354-430) in Sermon 105A in Essential Sermons, translated by Edmund Hill, edited by Daniel Doyle (New York: New City Press, 2007) 168.
A classroom full of students enrolled in Faith and Finances at Northern Seminary thinking they would learn what the Bible teaches on the handling of money in order to put their houses in order. What they have discovered through the course material is how to purchase “a splendid estate” indeed! The offer stands for everyone. The question remains for each of them and everyone reading this: Who will take hold of it? Augustine smartly states that it’s price is everything we have. At that price, it’s a bargain. It’s like getting a billion dollar eternal estate for a buck.