Quite some time back, and I know I’m really dating myself
here, Charles Osgood, reported on a story on CBS radio, about a , 71 years old
woman who died alone in West Palm Beach, Florida. The coroner's report read:
"Cause of death . . . malnutrition." She had wasted away to fifty
pounds. After the state authorities had made their preliminary investigation,
they found a veritable "pigpen . . . the biggest mess you can
imagine." One said. The woman had begged food from neighbors' back doors
and gotten what clothing she had from the Salvation Army. From all outward
appearances she was a penniless recluse. But such was not the case.
While searching her home, they found two keys to
safe-deposit boxes at two different local banks. In the first box were stock
certificates, plus hundreds of other valuable certificates, bonds, and solid
financial securities, not to mention $200,000 in cash. In the second box they
found $600,000. Adding the net worth of both boxes, they found well over a
million dollars.
Why, oh, why would anybody salt away all that wealth in two
tiny boxes, month after month, year after year, and refuse to spend even enough
for food to stay alive? You may say she was just saving her money but the fact
is, she wasn't saving her money; she was worshiping it . . . hoarding it . . .
gaining a twisted satisfaction out of watching the stacks grow higher as she
shuffled along the streets wearing the garb of a beggar.
Saving, investing, intelligent spending, and wise money
management are all important and valued behaviors, but I have trouble finding
one word of scriptural support for being a tightwad! Never have I seen one who
could dream broad dreams or see vast visions of what God can do in spite of
man's limitations.
Now I would much prefer to have a bunch of people with
"greathearts" . . . generous, openhanded, visionary and spiritually
minded givers. Magnanimous giants with
God who get excited about abandoning themselves to Him. You see, the name of
the game is not CAUTION---it's still VISION. Now that I think about it, it
seems like I read somewhere that those without it perish.
Did you know that when they buried that woman, she didn't
take a penny with her. And her the estate went to a distant niece and nephew,
neither of whom dreamed their aunt had a thin dime to her name. It’s hard not
to wonder about this woman. One can’t help but wonder about this woman?
Matthew 6:19-21 tells us “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in
and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and
vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where
your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Some folks serve the almighty dollar far more faithfully
than the Almighty God. They get greater delight out of balancing the budget
than watching the Lord multiply the loaves and fishes. It's sad to see so many missing out on all those blessings.
