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 for feeding the hungry, healing the sick, providing for those wo lacked the necessities of life, and most of all, freely telling of God's great gift of spiritual life. Now Christ could do these things supernaturally, but for the modern missionary the healing, feeding, teaching, and preaching all cost money. Yet missionaries continually report that expensive dispensaries, orphanages, liospitals, schools and relief programs both minister to the needy and open their hearts to the love of Christ.

By supporting these good and charitable works, do we not ``win friends" for ourselves and for Christ? Perhaps it is these friends and converts who will welcome us into our eternal home. Perhaps they will say, "Thank you for your simple act of kindness; it brought me to the lover of my soul.

Love in a Casserole

Can we win friends for Christ in the homeland fllso, by spending some of our money? How about inviting neighbors over for coffee or sending a cas- serole to a neighbor when she is sick? How much better tliey will listen to the message of Christ af ter we've demonstrated tlie love of Christ. Or what about newcomers at Sunday School picnics, fellowship dinners and youth activities? Are we glad to see them or do we grump about how mucli they eat? Jesus noted that some people followed him only because they ate the loaves and were filled.5 Yet he challenged his frugal disciples by saying, "Give ye them to eat."6 Since, in the long run, we cannot keep our money anyway, why not spend it where we know it will do the most good? Let's win a few friends for Christ, even if it costs us time or money or a roast beef dinner. It is wise to trade temporary affluence for eter- nfll treasure. As Jim Elliot said: He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

About the Author

Philip Lindner directs the young adult retreat at Bair Lake Bible Camp and teaches the young adult class at Coldwater Bible Chapel (Michigan) . A former newspaper reporter, he is now President of a wholesale firm. He is married and the father of two children.

Source

• Letters of Interest 1972-7&8