As Jesus is the cornerstone upon which the Church is built, so are his teachings the unifying cornerstone of Christian doctrine.

A Free Gift

While many Christians are stingy and selfish, some seem to be the exact opposite. Some believe that their good works can get them into heaven and are driven by guilt rather than love for neighbor. What are our motives? The challenge is to do good works, not out of necessity, but out of love. At the beginning of his challenge to give to the poor in Luke 12:32-40 Jesus reminded us that our Father in heaven has been pleased to give us the kingdom. We do not earn it. It is a gift. However, once having been given that gift, we are faced with a decision. What do we invest in heaven and what do we invest on earth? Are we living heavenly lives now? We don’t give to qualify for eternity with God. That is a free gift.

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