January 21, 2021
by Pastor Chuck SwindollScriptures: 2 Corinthians 8:7–8
I'LL NEVER FORGET SOMETHING I heard on the radio several years ago. A woman in West Palm Beach, Florida, died alone at the age of seventy-one. The coroner's report was tragic. "Cause of death: malnutrition."
I'LL NEVER FORGET SOMETHING I heard on the radio several years ago. A woman
in West Palm Beach, Florida, died alone at the age of seventy-one. The
coroner's report was tragic. "Cause of death: malnutrition."
The dear lady wasted away to fifty pounds. Investigators who found her said
the place where she lived was a veritable pigpen. One seasoned inspector
declared he'd never seen a residence in greater disarray.
The woman had begged food at her neighbors' back doors and gotten what
clothes she had from the Salvation Army. From all outward appearances, she
was a penniless recluse. But such was not the case.
Amid the jumble of her unclean, disheveled belongings, two keys were found
which led the officials to safe deposit boxes at two different local banks.
What they found was hard to believe.
The first contained over one hundred stock certificates, valuable
certificates, bonds, and solid financial securities, not to mention a stack
of cash amounting to nearly $200,000. The second box had no certificates,
only more currency—lots of it—$600,000 to be exact. Adding the net worth of
both boxes, they found that the woman had in her possession well over a
million dollars! She was a millionaire who died a victim of starvation in a
humble home.
We need to make an investigation of our own possessiveness, our tendency to
hoard, to hold onto, rather than invest in the lives of others. Remember
Paul's words to the Corinthian church:
Since you excel in so many ways . . . I want you to excel also in this
gracious act of giving. I am not commanding you to do this. But I am
testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the
other churches.
2 CORINTHIANS 8:7–8
The Corinthians abounded in vision, spiritual gifts, knowledge, zeal, and
even love. Paul urged them to abound in generosity, too. Be investors in
people!
This is timely advice for our own generation. Turn to the Lord in prayer
and ask Him to point out where you need to adjust—especially regarding your
attitude toward investing in others. You may be surprised what His audit of
your generosity reveals.