GIVING, GREED AND SALVATION

A very old rich skinflint in declining health finally gets serious about his eternal state. He goes to the local pastor and asks what he can do to account for the fact that he’s never given God much time or given the church a dime. The pastor just looks at him with that knowing expression that says, "Well, you finally got around to it, eh?"

Convicted, the old miser finally says, "OK...how about if I give the church every cent I’ve got? Will that do it; will that guarantee I’ll go to heaven when I die–-if I give my entire fortune to you?"

The Pastor paused a moment, then replied, "Well, it’s worth a try!"

(As told by Bishop J. Lawrence McCleskey at the clergy session of the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, June 6, 2007.)