You can’t take your money with you when you die, but you can send it on ahead.

This discussion today is meant to be a foretaste of the story behind my story as relates to my website, www.davesevern.com. It will only be told in its entirety long after I am gone from this earth and am excitedly and joyously enjoying my heavenly home in eternity. I share it now in this discussion, only in part, as a mini-foreshadow of what my true intentions were and still are as relates to the purpose and reason behind the initiation of this educational website. One day it will all make sense, become clearly understood, and finally silence my critics……You see, I know things about this website and its origination that no one else knows. I had to and still do have to be obedient to the teachings, direction, and commands of my Creator. I desire God’s blessings in my life. I know that disobedience to the commands of the Lord are the surest way to cancel God’s intended blessings to anyone. I want and desire His blessings, benefits, and rewards. I totally fear the Judgment Seat of Christ that all Believers will one day face. When I get there, I do not desire to be found wanting,…to be filled with reasons and excuses as to why I was disobedient to what God Almighty had told me to do. Consequently I am obediently following to the very best of my abilities, the directions and command that He clearly gave me in the early morning hours in August 2011 in Reno, Nevada.

God tells us all how to live our lives just as He created us….just as we are best able. You need no more than what you already possess. You just have to supply the “get-up-and-go” power required to get things started. Then to the extent that you use the gifts God has given you and thereby prove yourself worthy to receive greater rewards and benefits, your heavenly Father will give you more and more and more. This is exactly how He works in our lives. Just remember that you have to supply,…put forth the initial effort,…and take a great first step of faith in God, who promised to supply all the rest that you will ever need. God emphatically tells us in The Book of Ephesians, Chapter 3, verses 20–21, NKJV:

(20) “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

(21) to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Now please permit me to tell you that the other side of the coin is just as powerful in a negative sense. It means if you fail to go to work, or you refuse to use the talents and abilities that God has given you,…or you disobey the commands of the Lord once they have been given to you,… then you, and you alone,…cancel any further gifting or benefits from your Creator. This is the reason behind the Scripture that tells us that If you first give, it shall be given back unto you. Elsewhere in the Scriptures we are told that the more you give, the more you shall receive. Those are Promises to you from your Creator God! You can put them in the bank! No matter what you personally think about your own abilities, God promises to reward you for using what He has given you!

God laid it all out very clearly in The Book of Luke, Chapter 6, verse 38 NKJV:

(38) “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

This Scripture alone should motivate you to want to be a great, joyous, and generous giver of your own time, efforts, and financial resources in providing random acts of kindness in the love and service of your fellow man all for the glory of your God.

Here are the instructions the Lord God has given to us regarding how we are to handle our money and resources properly in obedience to His guidelines. It is all recorded in The Book of Matthew. Chapter 6, verses 19-21, NKJV:

(19) “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;

(20) but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

(21) For where your treasure is , there your heart will be also.”

There are many different examples and histories of how men and women have met their obligations to God in obedience to His Word. God admonishes us that to whom much is given,…much more is required. Remember everything belongs to God….everything! It was He who entrusted all of His Creation to his chosen people.

One of my favorite stories about an obedient servant of the Lord is the true story surrounding the “Tale of Two Georges”…George Hartford and George Gilman. These two men made a huge impact for good while they were alive on earth and because of so doing, the influence continued to ripple through the lives of the living long after they went home to be with the Lord in heaven. Permit me to share their story:

In the mid nineteenth century, tea cost about one dollar per pound, making it a rather expensive dietary staple. Mr. Hartford and Mr. Gilman came up with a simple but revolutionary plan to lower the price of tea to the consuming public.

They bought tea directly from the ships coming into to New York Harbor. Then taking a low percentage profit, they tried to achieve high-volume sales so as to create their best profit margins. Their tactics worked! The two business associates soon turned their mail-order business into a chain of stores which they called the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company– known simply today as A & P.

From the outset of their business enterprise and even with a family of five children, George Hartford faithfully and generously gave thousands of dollars every year to good and charitable causes, ranging from the Pius X Mission in Skagway, Alaska, to the First Methodist Church in Urbana, Illinois.

As his fortune continued to increase, he established a foundation as a conduit for his giving. Mr. Hartford’s desire was that his contributions benefit people such as those whose purchases at A & P stores had built his fortune. In other words, he gave back out of his abundance to those less fortunate souls on this earth. Later, he reorganized the foundation enabling it to receive his entire estate, so that by the time he actually died, bequests to individuals totaled 500,000, with $55 million going to the foundation, including $40 million in A & P corporate stock certificates. Thus, a portion of every dollar spent at an A & P store by any and all of their customers would eventually be “donated” to some good and worthy charitable cause.

Mr. George Hartford in many ways is still giving his fortune away…even after his physical death….even from beyond his own grave.

God clearly gives all of us explicit instructions as to how we are to live our lives here on earth and what we are to do with our earned income. He lays it all out in The Book of Matthew, Chapter 6, verses 19-21, as discussed above.

Giving back to God and His deserving creation, other people and causes,… is an all important act of obedience and faith. God loves a cheerful giver. He will always continue to reward and bless those of his children who grow closer to Him and benevolently share their wealth.

The very best use of your life…is to so live your life,….that the use of your life,…will outlive your life!

What an honor and privilege it is to be a God Fearing, God Loving, Obedient Christian.

Peace and Love to All of You…………………..Poppa Bear