Psalm
49:16, 17
Be
not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is
increased; for when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not
descend after him
.
Shied
Industries was made great by one man: Grayson Shields. He devoted himself to
his work, and he made a fortune by his efforts. During his climb to the top, he
experienced tow divorces; lost both parents, but was unable to attend their
funerals because of business conflicts; watched his health deteriorate; and was
in part responsible for the suicide of one of his competitors. To his way of
thinking, the benefits always outweighed the costs.
Men
like Shields are not unusual in our world today. Nothing stands in the way of
their climb to the top. Sadly, these men do not realize they have set an
inferior goal for themselves. The top of the corporate ladder is far short of
the top of the eternal ladder that God has set before us. What does it profit a
man to save his life, if he forfeits his soul? Men and women who have
sacrificed themselves totally to earthly gain can carry nothing with them
beyond the grave. There they will stand naked to face judgment for a life
poorly lived. Is it worth the price?
Prayer:
Make my life worthwhile, Lord. Set my sights on treasures that never fade away.
Get my mind off of earthly blessings and onto the blessings that come from
above. Amen.
