There was a rather rich, old man, with a cranky, miserable attitude, who sometimes attend a small church in his neighborhood. The old man knew that he was unhappy but he didn't know why. So he decided to visit the pastor of the church and discuss his problem. The pastor was a simple man who loved God and really tried to make a difference. They weren't together very long before the old pastor realized the problem. He decided to give the old man a visual lesson in truth.

He took the man by the hand and he led him over to his window. The window overlooked the church's pre-school playground. The pastor said, "Take a look out this window and tell me what you see?"

The man stood there and said, "I see some teachers. And there are some little children playing on the swings and monkey bars."

The pastor then led him across the room to a mirror and said, "Now tell me what you see."

The man frowned and said, "Well.. I see myself."

"Isn't that interesting?", the minister replied. "In the window there is glass, in the mirror there is glass. But the glass of the mirror is covered with a little bit of silver. You see, no sooner is the silver added than you cease to see others, and only yourself."

The minister looked at the old man.. "You can't let silver stop you from seeing a world that needs you. You can't let silver stop you from becoming part of that world."

The Great Temptation..

The minister was right. Silver (money, wealth) can become almost a god to some. It controls their lives. The "having and the holding" of money separates them from having the real joy and blessing of life. Someone once said that money has two "kicks." There is the joy of getting it and there is the joy of giving it away. There is no joy in having money in the bank. There is scarcely any fun in getting more things.. If there were why do so many things we buy end up in the closet or the garage?

No.. Money can be a blessing.. but the real blessing is in using it to help others. We can use money to make money or we can use money to make a difference. Let's make a difference this week.. it doesn't take a lot.. it just takes a willingness to share. It will make a difference in what you see in the mirror tomorrow.

God bless you and remember God loves you!