PAYBACK TIME

Nothing like a little philanthropy to jog the memory.

A generous elderly man donated to seven poor youths a big chunk of his wealth, so they could get married. While attending the weddings, something caused the old man to remember his own wedding, as well as other lost memories--including all the people he had loaned money that never bothered to pay him back. The old man's debtors did not deny that they had "forgotten" to pay him back.

Now that his memory has been set right, it seems these borrowers will have to pay back what they probably had written off years ago as a freebie.

It pays to be generous at all times. As the saying goes, "your generosity will be returned countlessfold!"

A TREASURE IN HEAVEN

What is the best investment you can make with your life? The gospel presents us with a paradox: we lose what we keep, and we gain what we give away. When we lose our lives for Jesus Christ, we gain a priceless treasure and an inheritance which last forever. Whatever we give to God comes back a hundredfold. Generosity flows from a heart full of gratitude for the abundant mercy and grace which God grants.

Do you give freely and generously?

And why do you give, for reward or for love?