We are sometimes quick to focus on the physical aspects of life and pay 
very little attention to the spiritual realm and that is a big problem 
because our physical being is not going to last forever but our spiritual
being will. The Bible declares in 2 Corinthians 4:17 "While we look not 
at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for 
the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen
are eternal." It is very important for us to remember that our spirit 
will never die, but our bodies will die and return to dust as it is 
written in (Genesis 3:19) and (Job 34:15).

This is a good parable sent by one of our members that shows how it is 
better to invest in our spirit and soul that will live forever rather then
our body and physical parts of life that will not (Galatians 6:8).
I hope this parable blesses you as it has for me.


THE FOUR WIVES

There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives. He loved the 4th wife the most
and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He took 
great care of her and gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the 3rd wife very much. He's very proud of her and always 
wanted to show her off to his friends. However, the merchant is always in
great fear that she might run away with some other men.

He too, loved his 2nd wife. She is a very considerate person, always 
patient and in fact is the merchant's confidante. Whenever the merchant 
faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife and she would always
help him out and tide him through difficult times.

Now, the merchant's 1st wife is a very loyal partner and has made great 
contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking 
care of the household. However, the merchant did not love the first wife 
and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.

One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to
die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, "Now I have 4
wives with me. But when I die, I'll be alone. How lonely I'll be!

Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I loved you most, endowed you with the 
finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will
you follow me and keep me company?" "No way!" replied the 4th wife and she
walked away without another word. The answer cut like sharp knife right 
into the merchant's heart.

The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you so much for 
all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me 
company?" "No!" replied the 3rd wife. "Life is so good over here! I'm 
going to remarry when you die!" The merchant's heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife, "I always turned to you for help and you've 
always helped me out. Now I need your help again. When I die, will you 
follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this 
time!" replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can only send you to 
your grave." The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was 
devastated.

Then a voice called out : "I'll leave with you. I'll follow you no matter
where you go." The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She 
was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly 
grieved, the merchant said, "I should have taken much better care of you 
while I could have!"


Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives...

The 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in
making it look good, it'll leave us when we die.

Our 3rd wife? Our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they all go
to others.

The 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been
there for us when we're alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up to 
the grave.

The 1st wife is in fact our spirit, often neglected in our pursuit of 
material wealth and sensual pleasure. Guess what? It is actually the only
thing that follows us wherever we go.

Author Unknown


I heard a minister once say that life is kind of like the board game 
Monopoly. He went on to say that just like the board game we go through 
life accumulating things and material wealth, but when the game is over, 
everything will go back into the box. It is the same thing with us; 
people go through life killing themselves to live a great life and to show
they have "made it in life", but they are spiritually dead and empty 
inside. Please remember that while it is nice for us to have the good 
things in life; these things will not be with us in eternity. Only what 
has been done for the Lord will follow us (1 Cor. 3:13-15), and that is 
the ultimate reward we can ever hope for when we meet the Lord on that 
glorious day.

I wish people would sit back for five minutes and really think about their
eternal spirit. I believe if they truly think about where they are going to
spend eternity and forget about their job, house and material possessions;
there would not be one person who wouldn't get on their knees and ask the
Lord to come into their heart and life. Our body is temporary and 
everything associated with it will go back into the box one day, but our 
spirit is eternal and will live forever, somewhere...


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus says "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon 
earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through 
and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither 
moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor 
steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

James 4:13-14 "Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to 
such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a 
profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is 
your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then 
vanishes away."

All scriptures can be found in the King James Version. 


In Christ Service, 

Dwayne Savaya 
Gods Work Ministry