Cornerstone

II Kings 5:20‑27 (20)

I was an only child so it was always a treat to have visitors.  This evening my cousins came to visit.  What made it even more special was that they brought some toys among which was a new football.  I did not have a football.  I loved the game.  Toys were soon scattered everywhere.  At one point I saw the football roll under my parent’s bed.  A plan was conceived.  When it came time for my cousins to leave they began to gather their toys. Everything was found except the football.  We looked everywhere.  Finally the search was given up.  My parents said that when we found the ball we would put it aside to return the next time we saw them.

For some reason I looked under my parent’s bed after my cousins left and there was the football!  I told my parents what I found and to my chagrin they put it away so that it would not be lost again.  I didn’t even get to play with the football!  A terrible choice made by a little boy.

A deceptive spirit is always disappointing to those who have placed trust in you.  A deceptive spirit is usually damaging to the potential of a relationship. Although we may fool our friends at times God is never fooled and judgment for sin is certain.

by Dr. Gayle Woods

Matthew 19:16‑22 (22)

He drove me down the streets of the exquisitely exclusive neighborhood in one of his new BMWs.  He showed me the streets that were named for his children.  He told me of his investments.  He made sure that I felt insignificant by telling me how with his doctorate he had gained fortunate and notoriety. He assured me that now that I had my doctorate I should go back to school and get a doctorate that would make me some money. He scoffed when I made mention that there must be a lot of millionaires in that neighborhood in order to own the houses I admired.  “What’s a million,” he said and drove into the drive of his palatial property.

I have often thought of that visit with my friend.  And yet I can’t block out memories of the time I met the same man in an expensive hotel so that he couldn’t unburden his heartache.  He had lost his wife, his children were not turning out as he had planned, and the story of hurt continued.  The saddest part of this story is that this man was the son of a holiness preacher, knew God’s desire for his life and yet chose prestige, property, possession and popularity instead.  He had it all and yet he had nothing.  True value isn’t preceded by a dollar sign.

by Dr. Gayle Woods