Do not build your life on a false foundation

Q: I think the only thing churches and other religious organizations are interested in is my money. I get tired of organizations begging for money all the time. At the end of the year my mailbox was stuffed with appeals for money.

— D.T.

A: I’m very sorry you feel this way — because some of God’s greatest blessings come to us when we give generously to help others. The Bible says, “Test me in this ... and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it” (Malachi 3:10).

After all, think what would happen if everyone felt the same way you do, and refused to support churches and other organizations that are trying to help those in need. The results would be catastrophic. Millions of people in the world, for example, live on the knife-edge of starvation — and they’d die if no one helped them. Or what if a flood or tornado struck your own community, and no one came to help?

The real issue, however, is this: What is more important to you — your money or God? To put it another way, which should be more important to you? Some day you will leave this world, and everything you have ever accumulated will be left behind. But then you will go into the presence of God — and tragically, you are not prepared for that day.

Don’t build your life on a false foundation. Instead, turn to Jesus Christ and build your life on him. He loves you so much he gave his life for you. You’ll never regret putting your life and your possessions into his hands. Remember Jesus’ warning: “No one can serve two masters. ... You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24).

Send your queries to “My Answer,” c/o Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C., 28201; call 1-(877) 2-GRAHAM, or visit billygraham.org.