LORD, Give Us Wisdom To Be Rich Towards YOU.

How much did he leave?

(J.R. Miller, "The Shining Light" 1911)

"What is a man profited, if he gains 
the whole world, and loses his own soul?" 
Matthew 16:26

That is putting the case in its most 

favorable light. The whole world is 

the largest possible gain. But suppose 

a man does get the whole world . . .

  it cannot keep him from pain or trouble;
  it cannot give him peace of conscience;
  it cannot comfort him in sorrow;
  it cannot make a soft pillow 

      for him when he is dying;
  it cannot purchase Heaven 

     for him when he is gone.

All he can do with the world, 

after he has it, is to keep it 

for a short time until he dies--

he cannot carry any part of it 

with him to eternity.

"How much did he leave?" 

asked one, referring to a millionaire 

who had just died. "Every cent!" 

was the reply. He left all. 

So it is easy to see 

that there is no profit--

but rather a fearful and eternal 

loss, in gaining even all the world 

at the price of one's soul. 

"Then the rich man said: 'This is what I'll do. 
I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, 
and there I will store all my grain and my goods.'
And I'll say to myself: 'You have plenty of good 
things laid up for many years. Take life easy; 
eat, drink and be merry!'   
But GOD said to him: 'You fool! This very night 
your life will be demanded from you. Then who 
will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
This is how it will be with anyone who stores up 
things for himself but is not rich toward GOD." 
Luke 12:18-21

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GraceGems has published Archibald Bonar's helpful article,
"Genuine Piety".