There was once a wealthy man who had
earned his money through schemes, investments, and off of the backs
of hard working persons. He was the CEO of a large investment company
who took a portion of the recent bailout stimulus and after firing
several employees, gave himself a $232 million raise before selling
the company.
One day, while making his yearly visit
to the doctor, the man was diagnosed with a inoperable tumor and
given six months to live. As one would after learning how much time
they had left before they died, he began to take a hard look at his
life. Surrounded by his cars, paintings, summer homes, private jets,
pools, he discovered how empty his life was. There alone, without
friends or family, he knew he would die and none of what he had
acquired mattered. He immediately got up, withdrew every single
dollar he had from the bank, and begin to make amends.
He set up a pension fund for all of his
employees he had let go which included a $50,000 gift. He donated
large portions to charities such as Habitat for Humanity, United Way,
Boys and Girls Clubs and to the cities local food pantry. He gave
away his best suits to those seeking jobs. He gave away his cars to
those in need of transportation, paying off the insurance. He
randomly paid off mortgages for strangers he met while riding his
bicycle. He even opened his homes to several homeless families as
well as other homeless.
5 months had passed and it would seem
he had begun to change his legacy, if you will. He was happier and
more at ease. He seemed at peace with his life. During those months,
not only had he shared his wealth, he also formed deep relationships
with several people he helped. He also sought forgiveness for the
wrong he caused others. As the end of the six months came to an end,
on that last night, he laid down in his bed, closed his eyes and
prepared to take his last breath.
At the last hour, Jesus appeared to the
man saying, “Tonight, you were supposed to lose your life. However,
because you have shared your wealth and come to the understanding
that money and wealth is not everything. You now understand one's
life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. Tonight,
instead of taking your life, I give it back to you. You are healed,
now go and continue to live.”
The next morning, the man made his way
to his doctor and after a few hours discovered that the inoperable
tumor had disappeared and he was indeed healed. He returned home and
sitting on the couch he observed how empty his life had become. He
yearned for things that were not there and he stared at the pile of
money on his coffee table, wondering where it all went. Pouting the
loss of his fortune and his sudden healing, he hears a knock at the
door.
At the door stood a man dressed in
ragged clothes and a worn out suitcase. “Excuse me, sir. I was told
by the kind ladies at the shelter that you have spare rooms that
folks like us can stay in for a night. May I stay the night here?”
The man looked at his guest and at his
empty room and the pile of money, “Sorry, I can't allow that to
happen. My circumstances have changed and I am no longer allowing
strangers to use my place. Please go away.” He closed the door and
went about his business.
Over the next few days the man
manipulated and worked his way back to get back a majority of the
wealth he had given away. Soon his empty house was full once more
with paintings, stereos, TVs, and other fine materials. One night the
Lord appeared to the man saying, “You fool! I returned your life to
you because you seemed to have understood that life was more than
possessions and wealth. When you knew your life was ending you sought
to make amends and care for those who less fortunate. Now that your
life has been returned to you, you have reverted back to your old
ways of living and have learned nothing. Tonight I have come to claim
your life and now the things that you've reclaimed and owned whose
will they be?
“So it is with those who store up
treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21
NRSV).
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