When you have a properties file inside your classpath or inside your jar file it becomes a resource. Any other case is a simple file.
What you need to do, before you package your jar file, is add to your classpath the folder where the properties files are (i.e myproject/src/main/resources/) then wherever you do a
Properties properties = new Properties();
properties.load(MyClass.class.getResourceAsStream("/yourPropsFileName"));
it will load it!
Although, if you are using an external property file you can also load it by using:
Properties properties = new Properties();
properties.load(new FileInputStream("extenalPropsFileLocation"));
Hope it helps!