LIFE IS NOT WHAT YOU HAVE 2 “…Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.” (Luke 12:15 TM) There are indeed blessings in giving. Have you realized that the more you give is the more you receive? That is the basic principle of life and it is anchored in the Bible, giving us guidance on how to live a happy and fulfilling life. Clinging to earthly things always brings discontentment, unfulfilled life and sadness. Alexander the Great testified on this. On his last days on earth when he was very sick and his body carried to the capital he said to his commander in chief, "My first wish is to have my physician bring my coffin home alone. After a gasping for air, Alexander continued: "My second wish is scatter the gold, silver, and gems from my treasure-house along the path to the tomb when you ship my coffin to the grave. This is my last wish, and this has to be fulfilled. When you carry my coffin to the grave, you have to keep both my hands hanging out of the coffin.” The commander in chief asked, “What kind of wish is this? Hands are always kept inside the coffin. Nobody has ever heard of a coffin being carried to the grave with the hands hanging out!” Alexander said, “I don’t have much breath to explain to you, but in short, I want to show to the world that I am going with empty hands. I was thinking I was becoming bigger and bigger, richer and richer, but in fact, I was becoming poorer and poorer. When I was born I had come into the world with my fists closed, as if I was holding something within my fists. Now at the moment of death, I cannot go with my fists closed. Let everybody know that Alexander the Great is dying with his hands empty, just a beggar.” Remember the story of the three servants given money to use wisely according to their abilities? The sad story is that the one given one talent did not invest but buried it and never yielded any interest (Matthew 25:24-30). If we do not bless others with what God has blessed us with we will end up with nothing. God will snatch even the smallest we have. I’m using the word ‘snatch’ deliberately because the last few verses in Matthew 25 depict the Owner (God) of our possessions as an angry Person when we do not take care of humanity. Lack of consideration of others is not God’s nature and should not be exhibited by those who call themselves His children. Our disservice to humanity greatly displeases Him that He becomes annoyed and therefore snatches what He has lent us. I like v. 26, 27 in the translation called The Message that depicts selfishness and disservice to mankind criminal: “The master was furious. ‘That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum…where at least I would have gotten a little interest.” By the way blessings is not only limited to material things but extend to virtues we possess such as love, sympathy, tenderheartedness, patience, etc. That is why Henri Nouwen says, “When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.” May you be richly blessed as you give your all to the service and welfare of mankind. ©ZET Productions.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Jul 2013 05:07:08 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015