A man appeared at the Pearly Gates and started to go through, but Michael the Archangel stopped him and said that he needed 1,000,000 reward points to get into heaven. The man replied, "Well, I've been a minister for 40 years and I had a big church and ran conferences and helped many people with my sermons." Michael looked in a small book and said slowly, "Being a minister for 40 years, running conferences, helpful sermons—that’s 5 points." "Five points!" exclaimed the man. "Well, I've also been a good husband and father and raised three children and took good care of them and was always kind and loving to my wife and children." Checking the book again, Michael said, "Being a good husband and father is good for 3 points." "Three points!" said the man. "Well, in our church I started a food program and ran it for 30 years and helped many, many, poor people and others in need." Looking in the book once more, Michael said, "Feeding and helping needy people is worth 2 points. Exasperated, the man loudly proclaimed, "And I faithfully tithed all my income every week!" Not even bothering to check the book, Michael said, "Tithing faithfully is worth 1 point." "I can't believe it!" shouted the man. "That only makes 11 points—I'll never get to a million! If that's all my good works are worth I might as well just throw myself on the grace of God!" "Bingo!" said Michael. "Go right on in."
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