Store money with an online poker site for future tournaments, and you could get a big painful surprise. Events of recent months involving the U.S. Justice Department have proven that. But building an account in heaven with God is another matter.
Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, were no thief comes near and no moth destroys. - Luke 12:33
Sounds great. But how do we do that? One answer is in the first part of this verse, which we didn't quote. Jesus expands on it elsewhere....
Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." - Matthew 19:21
What is the Lord saying here? Give away every penny you win at a poker tournament, then bum strangers for buy-in fees next week? We don't think it's quite that extreme an approach....
Commend 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 treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. - I Timothy 6:18-19
Paul's speaking here of eternal life. God wants to share that with us - so we should be willing to follow His example, and share our blessings with others as the opportunity develops. The idea is to be generous, not stingy. We've seen players do that even at poker tournaments.
Ecclesiastes 3:6 says there's a "time to keep, and a time to cast away...." Winning in poker can be a taking time. Casting away riches to those in need should be the rest of your life. Do you have the right balance?
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