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In the early 1900's, one of the wealthiest men of a certain town passed
away. The man specified before he died that a final farewell would be
done with him in the casket and taken down the streets in which he had
lived. The day came when the man's final farewell came. His body in the
casket, placed on a beautiful and ornate carriage and pulled by three
lavishly dressed horses. What many people did not understand was that as
part of this wealthy man's specifications, he was to have his hands placed
outside of the casket with his palms open facing upward.
The directions were followed exactly, and as the man's body in the casket
was seen by all of the people in the town standing on the sidewalks and
watching, a young boy looked up at his father in confusion. The boy asked
his father “Why is that man's hands outside of the casket like that?” The
father looked down at his son and said “That man wanted everyone to see
that all of his wealth that he worked so hard to attain can't be taken with
him in death.”
This story has stayed with me for many years. I have thought about this
story hundreds if not thousands of times because it is so true. We work
so hard to attain physical wealth, but what we don't always realize is
that it will all stay here after we are gone into eternity. Only the good
works that we did to help others rise higher, becoming better, reach
farther will last in the hearts and minds of those whom we were fortunate
enough to be in contact with. The Lord Jesus says it better than I can
ever say it. The Lord declares in Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for
yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where
thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and
steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
I'd like to ask the question, is this us? Is our sole intent in life to
gain as much physical wealth so that we can buy newer, bigger and better?
What we must realize is that it is foolish to want only for self because
to live only for self is to live in vain. Who gets better when we want
only for ourselves? Whom do we help to rise higher when we strive so hard
for self gain? Answering these questions is essential because life is too
short no matter how long it may seem to us presently. Years pass us by
that seem like only days ago and it is for this reason that we should be
eternity conscious and lay up for ourselves treasures in Heaven. Let us do
good works that will glorify God in Heaven, let us lead by Christ's
example so that people will be drawn to Him because of us. Let our life's
example point towards the Creator of this world so that all who see us,
will more importantly see Him. (Luke 18:18-23) (Matthew 16:24-28)
That is my prayer for each of us. May we be eternity minded in all of our
dealings. May we think far ahead of where we are right now so that we may
see how our life may be useful in helping others to become better than
they are right now. It will not matter how big your bank account is when
you breathe your last breath. That will not benefit you one iota, but the
good works that you did when you had breath will live on in the minds and
hearts of those that you were fortunate enough to touch.
(Mark 8:36-38) (1 John 3:17-18)
I encourage you with my whole heart to live eternity minded. Think of how
you will be remembered long after you are gone. Will you be thought of as
a selfish person? Will you be remembered fondly for having an open heart?
Will your memory live on in the lives of those who were closest to you? I
hope you meditate on this message and give your all for the betterment of
those around you. Living selflessly is to have truly lived and when we do,
we will truly never die. (Psalm 112:9) (1 Peter 3:10-14)
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
1 John 3:17-18 “But whoso hath this worlds good, and seeth his brother have
need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the
love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither
in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”
Luke 6:27-31 Jesus declares “But I say unto you which hear, Love your
enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and
pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee
on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke
forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee;
and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would
that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.”
Ephesians 4:31-32 “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour,
and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind
one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for
Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
1 John 4:10-12 “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved
us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God
so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at
any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is
perfected in us.”
Galatians 6:1-4 “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are
spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering
thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so
fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when
he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work,
and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem84.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: THE DAY THE ANGELS REJOICED
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony133.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
