A rich man was noticed by a parish Pastor to never give, not even a penny, to the collection of the church.  This was a very well known member of the parish.  The Pastor asked him one day: “How come you never took the envelopes for donations to the church throughout the year?”  The man replied: “I do not believe in helping the church because I see you guys with nice cars, cottages and homes and I never see where the money goes, where the poor are helped, where good causes are helped.  And furthermore, you give us tax receipts.  And the government should check out what you do with the money.  That’s why I don’t give.  I’ve even seen some of you with very expensive cars and gold rings, when you have made vows of poverty.  So where is poverty?”

So the Pastor looks at the man and says: “Do you know that my father died two years ago and left me this expensive car of his?  He also left me lots of money.  He didn’t leave it to the church - he left it to me.  So why should I give it all to the church, when our wages are so poor?”  And the man looked at the Pastor and said: “My wealth is also an inheritance from my father.  So why should I give it to the church, just like you said, Pastor.  My father gave it to me.”  Then the pastor looked at him and said: “How do you think the Church got built if nobody ever gave?  How are we supposed to maintain the church, pay the employees, the heat and all the expenditure, a house of God?”  Then the rich man said to the Pastor: “How about then, if we both give half of our wealth to help the Church?” So then the Pastor, smiling, said: “I already gave my half, my whole life to deal with people like you.  So now, you do your half and then I will have more to add on to what you do, because my life is my fortune.  And what my father gave me is what you call the wealth of the Church.  Because my father, my Heavenly Father gave me all that I have to use within the Church, including my life, to serve people like you.”

And the pastor continued saying: “How do you put gas in your car?  Me, it has to come from the Church.  How do we pay the heat?  How are we there for the people, where we make sure there’s always someone available?  Are you available to the Church 24 hours a day Sir, as a volunteer, even in times of distress, when we ask the people to help foreign countries to the poor?  I gave my life to you in giving it to the Church for the service of humanity.” 

“If we were to show you where every penny goes from almsgiving, you would find Sir, that even the mud that you bring in when it’s raining, we have to pay somebody to clean it.  And cut the grass, and look after the flowers for the investment of those who have helped the Church be a gathering place for the people of the community and maintain it as such.  Isn’t it strange Sir, that you’re here today and that you don’t believe?  I guess something o this place must have drawn you near because of its reality of bringing peace to the community?”

The rich man replied: “I’m a good investor, Father.  I always want to make sure that I’m a wise man in my investment.  Here’s a cheque for ten thousand dollars, which isn’t much, but at least if it could help you continue convincing people like me that we need a church, it’s the best investment I’ve ever lived.  No tax receipt required because then my offering would become less that what I make believed to give.  So may God bless you in blessing me and all of us in the community.”

End of story.