Matthew 19:16?22 (22)
He drove me down the streets of the exquisitely exclusive neighborhood in one of his new BMWs. He showed me the streets that were named for his children. He told me of his investments. He made sure that I felt insignificant by telling me how with his doctorate he had gained fortunate and notoriety. He assured me that now that I had my doctorate I should go back to school and get a doctorate that would make me some money. He scoffed when I made mention that there must be a lot of millionaires in that neighborhood in order to own the houses I admired. “What’s a million,” he said and drove into the drive of his palatial property.
I have often thought of that visit with my friend. And yet I can’t block out memories of the time I met the same man in an expensive hotel so that he couldn’t unburden his heartache. He had lost his wife, his children were not turning out as he had planned, and the story of hurt continued. The saddest part of this story is that this man was the son of a holiness preacher, knew God’s desire for his life and yet chose prestige, property, possession and popularity instead. He had it all and yet he had nothing. True value isn’t preceded by a dollar sign.
by Dr. Gayle Woods