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Jesus teaches a
lesson about riches by putting a farmer’s experience in a negative setting.
The story is found in Luke 12:16-21. This farmer was already rich, and his
new crop made him even richer. His harvest was greater than his storage
capacity. He decided to build larger barns to store his abundance. Why? So
he could store all of his bounty. Why do that? So he could take his ease. He
would not have to work. He had enough to live on. He could have a good time.
That night God called him into account. Many poor people could have been
helped by him, but none were. He was totally selfish. His abundance would go
to others, but he would receive no benefit from it. He had the opportunity
to do great good. He did none.
While preaching
in West Texas during the depression years I met and became friends with a
rancher. This man had worked very hard all of his life. He and his wife
lived frugally, but comfortably. His ranch was modest size by comparison
with most ranches at that time. In time, oil was discovered on part of his
land. What did he do with this extra money? His wife was discovered to have
cancer. He was able to provide as good care for her as there was at the
time. They had no children of their own, so they adopted two orphans that
they could love and raise. He went further. He began to build cottages at
different orphan homes so they could take care of more children on their
premises. He had a friend who wanted to go to a mission field and plant the
Lord’s church where it did not exist. In time he had helped 23 preachers
work for the Lord in various parts of the world.
The couple
was told that cancer would finally take his wife’s life. They bought 43
acres near a good size town. They planned to build a new orphan’s home. She
died before it was built, but he kept working on it. Before he died he paid
for the last building for children and staff. The home could accommodate 96
children.
A former
governor heard about this rancher’s work and made a trip to see him. The
rancher was in the hospital at the time. The governor went there to see him,
and told him what a wonderful thing he had done. The rancher said,
“Governor, everything I have is what the Lord gave me. I am trying to do
what I think the Lord wants me to do with what I have.”
Two weeks
later I was called to preach the rancher’s funeral. I made it all right
emotionally until the little children from the orphans’ home began filing by
his open casket. They were all crying, and they wanted to touch his hand or
his face. My tears joined theirs at that time. He was a rich man toward God!
1 Timothy 6:17-19
Harvey
Childress, servant of Jesus Christ |
