1 Timothy 6:18-19 “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasures for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”

First, let’s point out what Paul is not saying in these words. He is not suggesting that you can buy your way into heaven. You can buy your way into a lot of places, it seems. If you have enough money, you can just about buy your way into public office. They are always talking about which candidates have raised the most money, or which ones are in trouble because they are running out. You can buy your way into prestigious schools or hot ticket concerts and sporting events. If you are jailed, you might be able to buy your way to freedom.

But eternal life is not for sale. In Psalm 50 God reminded his people, “I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine and the cattle on a thousand hills.” We’ve got nothing to give him. It’s all his already. And it has always been his intent and desire to give away salvation for free. “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.” “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” “It is by grace you have been saved through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one may boast.” “My peace I give to you.”

So here is a word to the wise: a life of good deeds and generous giving, a life that doesn’t let riches make us proud or become our idol, lays up treasures for the life to come because it doesn’t get in the way of saving faith. It is not eroding our trust in God or leading us to give up his saving gifts. It keeps us from trading “the life that is truly life,” life with Christ, for the counterfeit “life” we have in this world, the one we are tempted to dress up to look like heaven by buying all kinds of temporary, empty pleasures.

The investment we make in our things–our cars, our homes, even our institutions and civilization–will be worth exactly nothing the day after Judgment Day. But the investment we make in the faith and love of God’s people, what we give to make sure the gospel is heard and shared, will pay dividends in souls saved for all eternity.