You Can't Take It With You LOI 1972-7&8

"You Can't Take It With You" by Phil Lindner, then of Coldwater Bible Chapel in Michigan:

Intro

"Do not toil or acquire wealth; be wise enough to desist. When your eyes light upon it, it is gone; for suddenly it takes to itself wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven." (Prov. 23:4-5)

You work hard to earn your money. Most people do. And after you've worked hard to earn it, you still live to contend with the ravages of inflation, market decline, and other wallet-flattening obstacles. Even if you are successful in business and accumulate a large estate, the fact remains, "you can't take it with you." Part of your estate can be passed on, of course that part that remains after funeral expenses, probate costs, executors' and lawyers' fees, and inheritance taxes).

But as Solomon lamented: "I hated all my toil in which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me; and who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom..." (Eccl. 2:18-19)

Even Solomon, in all his wisdom couldn't be certain the property he left would be used wisely. You can exercise control and authority over the things God has given you during your life on earth, but eventually control will pass on to others and the time of your personal stewardship will terminate. It will not be your decision whether or not you will give things up, but you may decide when and to whom you will pass them.

An Eye To The Future

Jesus told a curious story in Luke 16 about making good use of money while we can. In the parable of the unjust steward, a crooked manager learned that he was to be discharged from the management of his master's assets. So he quickly put those assets to use cultivating personal friends for himself.

Jesus commented, "The children of this world are in their own generation wiser than the children of light." (Luke 16:8) We who are sons of light know very well that the riches of this world will soon slip away from us, yet we foolishly cling to them. What is the proper use of money? Jesus applied the parable by advising: "Use your worldly wealth to win friends for yourselves, so that when money is a thing of the past you may be received into an eternal home." (Luke 16:9)

Let us look at what Christ did and what missionaries and other soul winners do to win friends. Christ and his followers have always been known

Source

• Letters of Interest 1972-7&8