For the past five weeks, Proem Ministries in Poland has been receiving and redirecting hundreds of refugees from Ukraine. Our contacts have reported that it has been heartbreaking to see women and children who had to leave their sons, husbands, and fathers while knowing they may never see them again, to then seek food and shelter from strangers in Poland.

Proem workers report that before these refugees fled their homes, they sold their valuables and gathered what little money and belongings they had with them, only to discover Ukrainian money was nearly worthless. How sad to find out your life’s savings are gone, and you have nothing but the clothes on your back and what could be packed in a suitcase.

Yet there is an even more tragic day coming when that will be true for all of us. The plight of the Ukrainian refugees is a picture of what will happen to each of us at life’s end. All our accumulated riches will be worthless when we stand before God. We’ll be empty-handed and pleading for His mercy. Job said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart” (Job 1:21).

An adage warns, “There are no pockets in a shroud.” Indeed, I am not aware of any casket that has a compartment for diamond rings, iPhones, or stock portfolios. If there is one, it is a sick joke. The truth is, we are currently stewards of what God has temporarily loaned to us.

Here are some lessons we should learn from the Ukrainian refugees:

1. Be content with what you have. Find your daily contentment in your relationship with God and with others…not in your financial portfolio.

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that” (1 Timothy 6: 6-8).

2. Put your money to use now. Don’t horde it up. Since a day is coming when it will be worthless, the wisest thing you can do with your money is to use it while you’re alive.

Jesus said, “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:9).

Your possessions do no one any good sitting in a bank or a safety deposit box. Professional golfer Doug Sanders once quipped his financial philosophy was “May the last check bounce.” One comedian suggested if that calculation were correct, he would have to die next Tuesday!

3. Be generous with those in need and thereby lay up treasure in heaven. Of course, you can’t take it with you, but you can send it on ahead.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

The Bible teaches that when we give to assist God in bringing salvation to the lost and meeting the basic needs of the poor, we are storing up treasure in heaven. God promises a generous return on our investment.

Last week I received the following video from my good friend in Poland, Maui Dwulat.

Maui heads up the Proem Ministry, which is currently overwhelmed with the needs of Ukrainian refugees. They have already helped with hundreds. But a unique opportunity has surfaced for them to purchase a small (50 bed) hotel for $2.5 million dollars. This is a huge project, and understandably they need to act swiftly. The mission believes that when the present crisis ends, they can effectively use the hotel as a base for their benevolence and family ministry. They’ve raised $1.5 million already!. They are now looking for significant donors to help.

I can’t turn a deaf ear to Maui’s plea. If you are familiar with Proem ministry, you can donate by clicking here. Under “Ministry Designation,” choose “Assist Ukrainian Refugees.” You can also send funds directly to their U.S. office at Proem Ministries, 11601 Main St. Louisville, KY 40243. If you have questions or want additional information, contact Gina in the U.S. office at gina.wells@proem.pl or call 502-254-5550.

The video below provides more information about the hotel.

“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:17-18).