Conversation at Starbucks...
Paige and I had coffee today, for our weekly meeting. As we conversed, our conversation turned towards politics...and the man sitting at the next table began talking with us.
From what I picked up throughout the hour that he talked to us, he was a 27-year old millionaire, who owns several thousand acres of property.
He kept talking to us about success, and about obtaining more money and how to do it...and the more he spoke about his life (and how he'll be able to retire by the time he's 30), the more I realized that I was saddened for him...not envious at all (which SHOCKED me, honestly!)...
This man's goal in life is to have more money...more things...
And as he spoke, the Holy Spirit gently brought to mind the message from chapel this morning, which was about what it means to deny self. I had heard countless messages on this topic before--but this was a fresh perspective.
The speaker had many "quotables":
"Only one thing is keeping you from an abundant life--and that's your abundant self."
"Only those who throw away their lives for Jesus' sake will know what it means to really live."
"Sin will keep you longer than you wanted to stay, cost you more than you wanted to pay, and will take you farther than you intended to go."
"My life is His BECAUSE He is my life."
THIS one was my favorite:
"Surrendering is like taking up your cross--not a lounge chair."
WOW! That one went right to my heart...
But as this guy was speaking, I was quiet and just reflected on the message this morning, as well as the passage in I Timothy 6 that I quoted the other day:
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith
and pierced themselves with many griefs."
--I Timothy 6:6-10
The Lord has been slowly preparing me for a life with few luxuries...and each day, something happens that makes me realize that I will be content wherever He leads me. Granted, there are definitely times when I realize that there are many things that I want--mainly pertaining to traveling--but I know that He will provide for all my needs.
It's time to get out of my "lounge chair" and pick up my cross...
From what I picked up throughout the hour that he talked to us, he was a 27-year old millionaire, who owns several thousand acres of property.
He kept talking to us about success, and about obtaining more money and how to do it...and the more he spoke about his life (and how he'll be able to retire by the time he's 30), the more I realized that I was saddened for him...not envious at all (which SHOCKED me, honestly!)...
This man's goal in life is to have more money...more things...
And as he spoke, the Holy Spirit gently brought to mind the message from chapel this morning, which was about what it means to deny self. I had heard countless messages on this topic before--but this was a fresh perspective.
The speaker had many "quotables":
"Only one thing is keeping you from an abundant life--and that's your abundant self."
"Only those who throw away their lives for Jesus' sake will know what it means to really live."
"Sin will keep you longer than you wanted to stay, cost you more than you wanted to pay, and will take you farther than you intended to go."
"My life is His BECAUSE He is my life."
THIS one was my favorite:
"Surrendering is like taking up your cross--not a lounge chair."
WOW! That one went right to my heart...
But as this guy was speaking, I was quiet and just reflected on the message this morning, as well as the passage in I Timothy 6 that I quoted the other day:
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith
and pierced themselves with many griefs."
--I Timothy 6:6-10
The Lord has been slowly preparing me for a life with few luxuries...and each day, something happens that makes me realize that I will be content wherever He leads me. Granted, there are definitely times when I realize that there are many things that I want--mainly pertaining to traveling--but I know that He will provide for all my needs.
It's time to get out of my "lounge chair" and pick up my cross...
posted by Lesa at 9/27/2004 10:32:00 PM
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