April 25
Psalms 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.
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