Discovering the “Man”

Many people who are blessed with money have serious problems. The Bible tells us that it is as difficult for a rich man to enter heaven as a camel going through the eye’ of a needle. This does not refer to an actual needle; it refers to a small opening in the wall surrounding Jerusalem called “The eye of the needle”. It was designed in such a manner that a camel loaded with goods would have to kneel down and actually inch through the opening on its knees to enter the city. Its purpose was to allow limited access to the city for trade, yet the gates could remain closed and protected from invading armies. It was time-consuming difficult work to get a camel laden with goods through the tiny opening and they had to work hard at it with concentrated effort to achieve success but it was achievable.

The same is true with being able to have large sums of money and yet remain solid as a Christian. It is difficult hard work to focus 110% on God with all of the distractions and temptation that come with money, but entirely achievable. Some cannot handle it. We are all familiar and baffled when we see people receive hundreds of millions of dollars via winning a lottery, professional sports contract, movie deal, or mega business deal and then observe their life rapidly disintegrate. Most of these people who were formerly happily married and content in their lives prior to obtaining the money, end up with ruined lives, divorced, and some even go on to commit suicide. It is because money is deceiving; it does not buy happiness. Happiness comes from God as does joy and peace; all are directly proportional to one’s relationship with God, not how many possessions one is in charge of.

Although I have not personally made that kind of money, the Lord has blessed me enormously, especially when one considers my humble background. I was fortunate in that the Lord taught me fairly early in my career that what He gives us on this earth is just temporal and not to rely on it, but instead to rely on God and the things that last for eternity. I recognize I am just managing some of God’s resources and one day those resources will pass on to the next person.

I nearly lost my entire net worth via a ring of individuals that embezzled large amounts of money from our company. In three days I went from being rich to being stripped of my wealth and wondering if I would have to take bankruptcy and lose my home. It took years of hard work to recover from that but I consider it one of the most valuable lessons learned in my life.

It is amazing how humbling that experience was to me. Admittedly I was somewhat enamored with myself and convinced that I was smart and referred to myself as “self-made”. I learned that there is no such thing as “self-made”. Blessings come from God and He should get the glory for giving them to us; I did work hard and stayed with it, but lots of people work hard and stay with it. God elected to bless me with more than my fair share and with it comes a responsibility to manage it wisely and not to get too hung up on it, as it will disappear like a vapor. I might or might not have my wealth stripped from me again, or even worse go through something like Job did while I am still alive on this earth, but without question when I die I will enter heaven buck naked without even a Rolex watch or driving a sleek black luxury car through those pearly gates. I will take my good works and nothing else.


I traveled to Acapulco Mexico one time and was trying to enjoy myself on the beach with my wife. Several dozen very poor Mexicans were lined up on the edge of the beach property in the hot sun all day long trying to sell various trinkets, tee shirts, etc. to the tourists lined up on the beach. One man was blowing on a large conch seashell at the top of his lungs. I was trying to read and could not concentrate because of the incessant foghorn type sound coming out of this seashell every two seconds.

After about a half hour of this, I became totally exasperated and finally went over to him to buy it in order to obtain some peace and quiet. I gave him all I had on me, (seven dollars), for it and I thought he was going to cry with happiness. I was ashamed. My intent had been just to shut him already, but when I looked into his eyes, it made me realize how difficult this man’s life was and how appreciative he was for my buying this seashell, (it was his prized possession but I had originally intended just to throw it away). He stood all day long in the hot sun blowing that seashell sweating profusely just in hopes of making a sale whereby he and his family could eat that night.

Seven dollars was nothing to me but everything to him. I felt like a rich fat ugly’ American. Had it not been for his driving me crazy with that incessant blowing, I probably would not have purchased the shell. I was not particularly interested in the man; just in getting some peace and quiet. I discovered the “man” that day when I walked over to him.

The Lord used this incident to yet again help me to understand and realize how many people there are in the world that really need help and that what He has given to me is to be used not just for myself but to further God’s purpose.

When you consider your wealth and possessions please think about God. He gave you everything you have for a purpose. I believe that He blesses us individually as a reward, but I also believe that without question He wants us primarily to help others and to be a good steward, (manager), of the wealth that He has entrusted to us. God does not need our resources as He owns everything already and if He really wants something to happen He can cause it to happen with us or without us just by moving some of His resources one way or the other. He wants our complete obedience and He wants us to think about His purpose and how we can use His resources that He has entrusted us with to accomplish it. I try not to think of money or possessions as mine, but as belonging to Him and it helps keep me on track. Try it you will like it…

Luke 12:32
Do not be afraid little flock, for your
Father has been pleased to give you the
kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the
poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will
not be exhausted, where no thief comes near
and no moth destroys. For where your treasure
is, there your heart will be also.