Introduction

The following story is an Urban Legend I found online about 20 years ago…

The upstate New York man was rich in almost every way. His estate was worth millions. He owned houses, land, antiques and cattle. But though on the outside he had it all, he was very unhappy on the inside.

His wife was growing old, and the couple was childless. He had always wanted a little boy to carry on the family legacy. Miraculously, his wife became pregnant, and gave birth to a little boy. The boy was severely handicapped, but the man loved him with his whole heart. When the boy was 5, his mom died. The dad grew closer to his special son. At the age of 13, the boy’s birth defects cost him his life, and the father died soon after, of a broken heart.

The estate was to be auctioned before hundreds of bidders. The first item offered was a painting of the boy. No one bid. They waited like vultures for the riches. Finally, the poor housemaid, who had helped raise the boy, bid $5 for the picture and easily took the bid. To everyone’s shock, the auctioneer ripped a handwritten will from the back of the picture. This is what it said. “To the person who thinks enough of my son to buy this painting, to this person I give my entire estate.” The auction was over. The greedy crowd walked away in shock and dismay.

Similar Setting, Same Outcome

As we see in this story, the people at the auction were bound and determined to get their hands on the wealth of the father more than care about his son. It reminds me of the parable of the vineyard from Mt. 21:33-41. Jesus spoke of a man who had a vineyard and allowed vinedressers to work it. When it came time to collect, he sent servants who were beaten, stoned, or killed.

Then he sent his son, “Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.” (Matthew 21:37-39)

How much more do we see the same thing today? People want to get the good gifts, which come from God (Jas. 1:17), but reject His Son; the most perfect gift given to the world (John 3:16). The Jews rejected Jesus in His time and continue to do so today. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

Treasure Seekers

There are others who rather seek treasure of the world and put God second. The apostle John warned, Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–is not of the Father but is of the world. (1 John 2:15-16)

Peter adds to this thought with an additional warning, But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10)

 That which is of the world is temporary and will disappear forever at the end of time. It won’t do you any good come the Day of Judgment. 

Conclusion

Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21) And again, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)