“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36
Years ago a group of friends met in the basement of their city home. A crazy idea popped up in conversation during a friendly game of billiards. “Wouldn’t it be funny,” one may have suggested, “if we could build a Model-T, right here in the basement?” Soon the group of mechanics was chuckling at the idea. They all offered to pitch in. Everyone volunteered to help bring the pieces of the automobile, one by one, through the only entrance, the up-stairs doorway and down into the cellar.
The joke and dare became a real project. Just as promised, each man brought a piece of the car down the steps and into the cellar. As more pieces arrived, the assembly progressed. After a long period, the car was completely assembled: fenders, tires, engine, interior, and every other part. The professional mechanics even got it running. What a neighborhood joke the car in the basement must have been.
Time passed. One by one, the weekly meeting lost another of its members. The original builders even forgot about their project. Soon, even the house was sold. The new owners chuckled at what was downstairs, but soon the novelty of the car was forgotten.
Many years later, as I recall the story, the house was condemned. After the residence was destroyed, the old Ford was rolled away and sold. The house was gone and all the people, but still the “treasure” remained.
What a similarity that Model-T is to what happens to many lives. Little things, that really have no importance, become far too paramount in lives. Many lives have been wasted, marriages destroyed, and families split-up because priority was given to hobbies, friends, jobs, and “things.” Once their life is over, the possessions will be still standing, but what was important was destroyed, or never given the priority and time it deserved.
Vast numbers of people have died with quite an impressive number of “things,” but spiritually they were destitute. They had all this world offered them, but died and went to hell because their eternal destination never was a priority. No one can take the things of this world with them when they die.
“Things” are not that important. They do give temporary enjoyment, but that joy is not permanent. Relationships with people are far more important. Our children, family, and friends should be given higher value than temporal things. What are we to profit if we have big cars and houses, but our children have had to raise themselves and have ruined their lives? How are we rich, when we have large bank accounts; but our family does not talk to us anymore? What joy will that fancy car, that you sacrificed to have, bring you when you have no one to share it with? When our life is over, our “things” will still remain; but will the influence we had on others be remembered? Will our life have made a difference?
When the “house” of our world perishes, is what remains that important? On deathbeds, the shiny frills of this world are hardly ever mentioned. It is the assurance of Heaven and regrets for poor relationships that usually are the primary concerns. Do not wait until death is eminent to make your priorities right!
Do not love things and use people, rather, love people and use things.
It is true I would rather have a closeness with family than have things . Just as Doug posted ” Job said, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither” I say take all one has clothes and all and we all are the same non better than the other . So it is things that people set themselves apart from others like the more they have the better they are . Like some say oh look at my new car or house and say in this world there are the haves and have nots . Well I rather be a have not which I have been called as I have seen how family are when one dies .
“How are we rich, when we have large bank accounts; but our family does not talk to us anymore? ”
When my Grandmother passed away having possessed the accumulated wealth of a lifetime…primarily land, I almost immediately ran into a Great lady that I attend church with. She was expressing her condolences to me when it occurred to me that although she possessed little, all of her children, grandchildren, and most of her great grandchildren were serving the Lord, while my grandmothers 3 children and the vast majority of her grandchildren and great grandchildren were lost.
I remarked to her how much I admired that and wanted to do the same as best I could. She was the one that was truly rich.
That wealthy lady is still living. She is in her mid to late eighties. After her husband, a pastor, passed away many years ago, she spent decades alone. Just a year or two ago, The Lord put her and a Widower minister the same age together, so here in the December of life, she has been rewarded with a husband and companion for these final years. Her desire for her Golden years was to be able to travel and serve the Lord again. He richly answered that prayer. Her and her husband are preaching, singing, and ministering in many places and frequently.
I sat behind her in church last night. She raised her hands and worshipped The Saviour that has been so good to her. Next to her was her son in law…a retired pastor and full time evangelist and his wife. Her Grandson ran the service last night…he is my pastor.. Another Grandson and his family testified and sang. I worked the door with her son. Among the couple of hundred souls at service last night..probably 20 or better can claim direct lineage from her. As far as I know, ALL of her many descendants are serving the Lord.
Her first husband, that has passed, was saved as an adult and called into the ministry, where he served as a bivocational pastor and missionary.
Things have not always been rosy for them, I am sure. However, the weight and influence of those two lives,Gene and Melva Jean, is remarkable. If it is true that the saved souls of the passed can observe our goings on here on earth, then there is little doubt that Bro Gene is in Heaven shouting around the throne for all God has done with his seed.
I thank God for them. They have directly blessed and touched my life and countless others.
What a legacy!
I preached my father-in-law’s funeral. When we got back to his house after the service, I remembered walking through his house and around the yard looking at all his “stuff” he had collected over the years.
Today, all his things are still there, falling apart and mildewing! He took none of it with him and neither will we! Job said, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither”