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Topic: Wealthy Paupers
[DCLM Daily Manna 30 September 2018 Daily Devotional]
Text: Matthew 19:23-30 (KJV)
Key Verse: “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven“ (Matthew 19:23).
MESSAGE:
The New York Times of March 15, 1931 carried the obituary of Ella Wendel who died at the age of 78. She was unmarried and left a family fortune of more than $100,000,000. She was the youngest of the Wendel family of six sisters and one brother, John, who was the eldest. John was able to influence his sisters not to marry and they all lived in the same house like paupers. By the time she died, Ella Wendel had only one dress which she made herself and she used it for 25 years. She died a wealthy woman, but her family’s compulsion to hold on to their possessions made her live like a poor person. The Wendels provide a classic example of how not to handle wealth.
In our passage for meditation today, Jesus gave His disciples true perspectives on wealth. He made them to understand that many wealthy people would not be able to get to heaven because of their wealth. Jesus also compared the ephemeral things of this earth with the true riches that His followers will have here and hereafter. He said that the believer would be happier and richer by far in the regeneration when He shall sit “in the throne of His glory”.
Wisdom demands we learn from the mistakes of the rich fool, the rich young man and even the Wendels of this world. Material wealth, position and power do not last forever. We must therefore “lay up our treasures in heaven”.
Thought For The Day: Money is a good servant but a bad master.
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