I was wealthy. I had a beautiful wife, three wonderful children,
a very large house in a secure wealthy suburb. I had the job everyone would
kill for. I had a salary that attracted attention from investment companies and
banks all desperate to have a share of my wealth. I had friends everywhere that
would assist me with almost anything…..for a price. It had happened over many
years. I had started small with a few small business ideas. One of them had
finally worked and made me what I was. I was proud of myself. The world was my
oyster and I could achieve anything I wanted to. I had become my own god. I worshiped
me. I looked at what I had done and it was good. I felt sorry for the people
who were not able to achieve as I had achieved. I pitied them for being stupid
and lazy. If I could do it anyone could.
I sat in my corner office looking out the window at the buildings
around me. I wore my best suit today as I was about to be promoted to an even
better position. I would climb the ladder of success further than anyone else
my age had every done.
The door slammed open. In rushed my secretary. She shouted. ‘It’s
all over, it’s ruined, and we are finished.” I jumped from my seat and ran to
her. “What do you mean?” She spluttered, “The FBI is downstairs”. I knew what
this meant. All our bad dealings had caught up with us. I had been aware of the
dealings for months. It was standard to work within the grey areas of the law.
We however had pushed further into what was illegal, Fraud, Money laundering
and some very unsavoury friends. My millions would be gone in a breeze. I then
realised…
I had no wealth, my wife loved someone else, my children did
not know me, and my house would be gone. I had no Job or salary. I would lose
my friends. It had happened overnight. I had lost everything. I was very sad. I
realised that I was no god. I realised that I did not deserve worship. Everything
I had done was bad. I was happy others had not been like. They had been clever.
They had walked the righteous path. I realised that I was alone, that I had
nothing. I fell to my knees and cried. I cried for forgiveness from God.
Sometimes we get so lost in life we forget that God is in
control. We lose him in our rush to achieve status, wealth and power only to
realise later that they are meaningless and can disappear in an instant. God is
always there. Seek him first. Spend time with him and rest in his arms. Let him
be your guide to how to live your life. Maybe it’s time you took a break and
spent it with family and friends. Don’t lose the precious people in your life
by chasing material wealth. Focus on the important stuff in life. God and then
family, That’s the priority I would want you all to have.
cheers
Greg hay
