A TRUE STORY . . .

I would like to tell a story; I closed a sermon with it a long time ago:
It is a true story, and I assure you that no one asked or in any wayslightly hinted that I should tell it to you. But I just felt I neededto:
John Nielson died alone in a little house trailer in Delaware, justacross the toll bridge from Pennsville, New Jersey. He was an oldman, and he lived alone. He died in his bed, where he had retired toread. On his bed were three or four reference books, and on his chestwere his glasses and his Greek New Testament. You might say JohnNielson died "mining gold in the Word of God."
And John Nielson died a wealthy man. How can I tell you how wealthy?The reason John Nielson died so wealthy was that (1) he had made verywise investments. And (2) he had made investments that went beforehim into eternity, and followed after him after he had gone intoeternity.
Mr. Nielson invested in his family. He put his family ahead ofworldly ambition, or even ambition within the visible kingdom ofGod. At the age of 29 he was elected superintendent of theWashington-Philadelphia district of the Church of the Nazarene, andbeing a DS at that age would seem to indicate that he "had it made" asfar as the church was concerned. But he stepped down and took a homemission charge so that he would not have to be away from his family somuch while they were growing up.
Mr. Nielson did not shirk his duty, wherever it led. He was a loyalhusband even when he had to literally carry his wife into the churcheswith him on preaching assignments the last several years. She had beenparalyzed with a stroke, and was unable even to speak. But Mr. Nielsonwas committed.
Mr. Nielson did not withhold his money. He tithed and gave regularlybeyond his 10%, but also he participated in pledging and special needswhen it meant postponing what others might term "necessities." Yousee, he was a wise man, and he was making eternal investments.
So, when John Nielson died, he died in a little house trailer, and hadjust a little money left over-- enough to bury him and pay all hisdebts and not much more. He came to the end of this part of lifehaving pretty much spent and expended all the resources and gifts andtalents with which God had trusted him. He also left two daughters andthree sons, and grandchildren and now great-grandchildren-- andsomehow he had handed down to them the idea that they had something togive to God and to God's kingdom, and that they could make adifference in this world through faithfulness to God's Word.
One quote Alice Kauffman makes in her book about Mr. Nielson isinteresting to me: In a letter John Nielson wrote," I am an egoist, notan egotist!" I take this to mean that in a thoroughly Christian,sanctified way he was saying: "I do count! I can make a difference!God does use me!"
I want to be humble and Christ-like. But I want to be rich andwealthy like Mr. Nielson, too! I want to live a life that counts. Iwant to come to the end of my life and have invested wisely! I don'twant too much left over!
What is the best-kept secret in the world? What is life FOR? What am Isaving myself for? These are questions I ask myself! And I ask Godtoday: "How may I invest in YOUR kingdom?"
I have some practical suggestions:
1. Re-think your values. Re-order your life if necessary! What does it profit a man or a woman if we make $100,000 a year and lose our children for all eternity?
2. Open your life to the Spirit, and to the Word. There is no short-cut to spirituality! No one else can do your praying and your Bible reading for you!
3. Determine to live for God by loving people-- and start with the people that are nearest you! Be ye kind! is one of the most important verses in all the Bible!
4. Put all your resources at God's disposal.
Please join with me in prayer!