Giving ChallengeNäide

You Can Give Eternally

Allison and I planned our 20th anniversary in Hawaii for a long time. We saved, plotted it out, and dreamed of what we would eat and do. It went just as we had planned, and we had a wonderful time! But, like everything else, it also came to an end. We returned to the daily hum-drum of routine and back to “real life.”

Some people really struggle with this transition. They experience what’s called a vacation hangover. They live so much for their vacations that they feel depressed after they are over. But isn't that the whole point of a vacation—that they aren’t supposed to last forever?!

Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6 that if all we do is invest in experiences on earth, we’re bound to be disappointed because they never last. But there’s another kind of “forever experience.” Jesus tells us to “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20, NIV)—treasures that moths can’t eat, rust can’t destroy, and thieves can’t steal.

What are these treasures? They’re the eternal impact of the love, generosity, and good works we pour into others for the sake of God’s Kingdom.

Paul echoes this in 1 Timothy 6, urging believers to be generous and willing to share because this builds a “firm foundation for the coming age” (NIV). Every time you give to someone in need, share the gospel, invest in discipleship, or serve someone with Christ’s love, you are participating in something eternal.

Here’s the encouragement: sometimes eternal giving feels small or unnoticed. Maybe you wonder if your words of encouragement, your financial gift, or your act of service really matter. Galatians 6:9 reminds us, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (NIV). Your giving may plant seeds you never see grow, but in eternity, the impact will be clear.

Eternal giving is about lifting our eyes off what’s temporary and focusing on what lasts forever. When we live this way, we discover “the life that is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:19, NIV)—a life that doesn’t end after six days and five nights, but one that goes on forever!

Challenge:
Choose one eternal investment you can make this week. It might be writing a note of encouragement, giving to a ministry, mentoring someone, or sharing your faith story. Do it prayerfully, trusting that God will multiply your gift into eternal impact.