KFLCC Kingdom Economics

The Significance of the Giving Life

mammon, and on the other hand, you are to make friends of mammon. To glean further insight from this statement, look at various translations of verse 9: I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. (NIV) And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings. (NASB) And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), so that when it fails, they [those you have favored] may receive and welcome you into the everlasting habitations (dwellings). (AMP) I tell you, use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. In this way, your generosity stores up a reward for you in heaven. (NLT) The message seems to be, use your resources to make friends among those who are unsaved and help them when possible. You may eventually win them to Christ and you will be welcomed and rewarded in eternity. This is the true meaning of laying up for yourselves treasure in heaven (Matt. 6:19-21). Several years ago, one of my pastor friends became involved in a parade that had absolutely nothing spiritual connected with it and was full of unsaved people. Later the pastor was challenged in the city court over an issue, and one of the biggest Christian fighters in the city sent his own lawyer to defend the pastor and his church, just because he liked the fact that they had treated the sinners well. Many years ago I was ministering in a small community. Unknown to me, a young man attended the meeting whose father was involved with the crime syndicate in a major city. That night the young man was converted and told his father. After the service I received a call in a restaurant from a man who was threatening me with harm. I called the police, and they showed up and recommended that I leave where I was staying and change locations. As I walked out of the restaurant, three men were in a car and I recognized one as the son of a very godly woman in the local church. I also knew he was one of the drug kingpins in the county and his mother was praying for his conversion. The fellow said, “Stone, come over here. I just heard on the police scanner that you had a threat. Don’t worry.” He pulled out a 357 from under his seat and said, “If anybody messes with you, they’ll have to come through us first!” Never have I been so thankful to have sinner friends! Remember, it was

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