CLEOEJACKSONIII.COM
  • My Home Page
  • My Life and Ministry
  • My Ongoing Thoughts
  • My Favorite Bible Verses
  • My Favorite Stories
  • My Favorite Jokes
  • My Favorite Quotations
  • My Favorite Web Links
  • My Contact Info
"Helping Others Communicate"

ASKING FOR DIRECTION

4/30/2015

 
Long before the televangelist scandals of the 1980’s ever came about, preachers have been teased over their concerns about money.  Now, if the truth be known, this may be somewhat justified.  From the time of Balaam in the Old Testament Book of Numbers, far too many preachers have been overly preoccupied with the material world at the expense of the spiritual one. 

And yet, at the same time, if that is true for ministers, how much more is that true for lay people (who greatly outnumber us). This is especially true in the materialistic culture in which we now live.


In a devotional titled “The Only Impression That Counts“, Pastor Jim Scudder, Jr. relates the story of  George W. Truett, longtime Pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas from 1897 to 1944.

Once a wealthy oil tycoon thought he would try to impress Dr. George W. Truett with his great riches. So he invited the pastor to visit his sprawling property in Texas. He pointed to the acres of land in the north and said, “Pastor, as far as you can see in that direction, I own it.”

Then he pointed eastward and stated, “I also own everything you see that way.”

He showed the pastor the land to the south and east, again claiming to own everything within eyesight.

Dr. Truett waited until the businessman had finished, and then he raised his hand and pointed toward Heaven. He asked, “But how much do you have in that direction?”*

Ouch!  That one hits a little close to home – for all of us, ministers and lay people alike!  But then, once we understand that life consists of more than the material, we suddenly get Dr. Truett’s point! 

Scudder continues…

Unless we have treasures in Heaven, no earthly riches will profit us. We can start laying up this treasure by understanding our spiritually bankrupt condition before God. Regardless of our financial wherewithal, we are all indebted to God because of sin. The only payment He accepts for sin is death (Romans 6:23a). We cannot give Him our property or riches to pay off this outstanding debt.

God knew this, and sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to Earth to pay the price for our sins through His death and shed blood on the cross. Three days later, He rose again from the dead, offering eternal life.

My friend, God isn’t impressed with your possessions. His heart will only be moved to cancel your sin debt when you accept His free gift. Put your trust in Christ today.

Brother Scudder then concludes his post with this most fitting quote by David Livingstone:  “I will place no value on anything I have or may possess, except in relation to the Kingdom of Christ.”

Amen, sir.  Well said! 

*SOURCE: 
http://www.victoryingrace.org/january-23rd-the-only-impression-that-counts. 

NOTE:  The story of Dr. Truett and his wealthy parishioner is available from multiple secondary sources online.  Among them, the one primary source most often cited is the October 24, 1992 edition of Our Daily Bread.  (Cf.:  
http://ourdailybread.org/.)

A collection of Dr. Truett’s actual sermons are available online at: 
http://digitalcollections.baylor.edu/cdm/search/collection/fa-gwt/collection/fa-gwt.

Comments are closed.

    Cleo E. Jackson, III

    Occasionally I will add
    a few thoughts to my blog. If you find them inspirational, I will be
    honored.

    Archives

    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010

    Categories

    All