Augustine of Hippo: EasyGivers and Transformed Investments

Poverty is difficult and grim. Let them be easy givers; they’ve got the wherewithal. Let them share, that is, take some notice of their fellow mortals. Let them share, let them store up for themselves a good foundation for the future. “You see,” he says, “just because I say Let them be easy givers, let them share, it doesn’t mean I want them looted, want them stripped naked, want them left empty.

I am teaching them how to make a profit, when I point out, Let them store up for themselves. I’m not telling them to do this so that they can lose it; I’m showing them where to transfer the account. Let them store up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they lay hold of true life (1 Timothy 6:18-19).”

So this one is a false life; let them lay hold of true life. After all, Vanity of vanitators, and all is vanity. What is this great abundance for man in all his toil, at which he toils under the sun? (Ecclesiastes 1:2-3). So true life is to be laid hold of, our investments are to be transferred to the place of true life, so that we may find there what we give here. The one who transforms us also transforms those investments."

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) in Essential Sermons, trans. Edmund Hill, ed. Daniel Doyle, The Works of Saint Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century (New York: New City Press, 2007), Sermon 61.11.

This is the third of seven posts exploring the theme of 'abundance' in the sermons of one of my favorite orators. If you love these excerpts, do download the PDF of this collection of sermons freely here.

With Augustine, I write today to teach you how to make a profit. It's an easy decision if you calculate the eternal return.

But only easy givers get it. Are you an easy giver?

Obey today's Scripture: explicit instructions of Jesus from the heart of the Sermon on the Mount. You will not end up looted, stripped naked, and left empty.

You will make the best possible investment. In so doing, you abandon the false life and take hold of true life.

And God does something in the heavens when you give. You can anticipate the promise of transformed investments.

Try it. Become an easy giver.

This week I am inviting you as a reader to make an easy gift. It's not for me but for suffering souls in Ukraine. I return there with CTU Global in December 2026.

Again, this marks my fourth trip since the conflict escalated in 2022. Some say, why put yourself in harm's way? Are you crazy? What difference can you make?

Bringing hope and help to the hardest places changes everything!

When David took bread and cheese to his brothers on the battlefront, he said "let no one lose heart" (1 Samuel 17:32). His visit reminded them of what was true. His courage turned the situation from stalemate to victory.

How can you help Ukrainians not lose heart? Send our team with supplies and supplication.

Click here to go to the CTU global website. Click the blue give button to give and be sure to write "Project: Ukraine" in the "add a note" section.

Praise God with me that $11,320 has been committed or contributed so far. Pray with me for another$10,000 to $15,000.

In the words of Augustine, "take some notice of [your] fellow mortals." And, "I’m not telling [you] to do this so that [you] can lose it; I’m showing [you] where to transfer the account."

Your gift will resource me and a team to bless the war-torn Christians in Ukraine this Christmas season. Here are the first names and roles of our team members.

• Sasha from Ukraine serves as captain. He maps our schedule and sends photos of our passports to military checkpoints for clearance (when necessary).