“And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Job 1:21
I once read a Chinese folklore about a king who owned everything wealth could buy. Before his death, he gave a command to his children: “When I die, bury me with all my treasures so I can take them with me.” Obediently, they fulfilled his wish, but when the king crossed into the afterlife, he was asked to exchange his riches for the currency used there. To his horror, none of the treasures he had clung to in life could be accepted or exchanged. All his gold, silver, and jewels were worthless in that realm. Stripped of his wealth, he was left to live out his eternity in poverty and want.
This story mirrors the reality of human existence. We come into the world empty, and we will leave it the same way. No gold, no property, no fame, and no title will journey with us. The only thing that truly counts is what we have done with our time, resources, and relationship with God.
Beloved, this life is fleeting. What will matter at the end is not how much you owned but how well you lived for Christ. Empty you came, and empty you shall go.
Charge: Let your life be full of good works, gratitude, and godly legacy that will echo into eternity.
Further Study: Psalm 49:16-17; Ecclesiastes 5:15; Proverbs 11:4; Matthew 6:19-20; Luke 12:19-21; 1 Timothy 6:7; Hebrews 13:5.
May we God help us all. Amen!
