|
 One
man, intent upon becoming wealthy, determined to invest only in ventures
which gave him advantage of’ others. A second, equally ambitious but
wiser, determined to build a business which offered the greatest
advantage to others.
Guess
what? The first man became filthy rich, with four wives and three
Cadillacs. (His third wife got the fourth Cadillac in her settlement,
but had to sell it for taxes.) He never knew a quiet, satisfied moment
in his life.
The
second man worked like a dog, and nearly everyone took advantage of him
— which worried him little. He made a modest living, earned respect
for what he was, and bored folk to tears with pictures of his
grandchildren. (oh yes, he bought the used Cadillac at a court auction.)
Moral
of the story is: “What Most People Want, Costs Too Much!”
Moses
chose “rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to
enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season: Esteeming the reproach of
Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect
unto the recompense of the reward.” (Heb. 11:25-26) (That last part
means, in every —day English, “he could see
|
|
beyond the end of his nose.”)
Short-sighted
people quit school early,— to work on the road, escape class-room
discipline, or otherwise prove their immaturity. Others overgraze their
land, misuse their credit, or mistake a bragging drunk for a man.
But
the shortest short-sightedness of all is that which ignores the brevity
of life, the certainty of judgement, and the awfulness of Hell.
Riches
for riches’ sake (built on selfish desires) cost too much. They seem
pleasant enough, viewed from afar; but they exact their toll both in
this life, and in that to come. We can build only one true security, and
that consists of the treasures we lay up in heaven. A lifetime of
service to the Lord is not too great a cost for this end.
If
you think you do not need this particular lesson, try depriving yourself
to give to some worthy cause. Give something you think you can’t do
without. I have tried it a few times, and — Man, does it hurt!
(Reprint, Vol. 1, No. 6)
[Previous
Article] [Next
Article]
|
