On April 14, 1912 around 10:00 pm the RMS Titanic crashed into an iceberg on its maiden voyage. Within four hours of the crash, the luxury liner slipped out of sight, destined for its grave in the North Atlantic Ocean.
A woman in one of the lifeboats asked if she could go back to her room to retrieve something from it. She was given three minutes to do so. She hurried as quickly as possible while the ship continued to slowly list further to its starboard side.
To get to her room she had to walk through the gambling room, piled ankle-deep in money. Once in her room, she bypassed her expensive clothes, jewelry, and other possessions so she could snatch three oranges for her and the children she left in the lifeboat.
Death has a somber way of helping you see what is truly valuable.
Jesus was quite emphatic when He said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19). Improper values results in the pursuit of worthless treasures and a misspent life.
Earthly treasure—money, fame, position, honor, power, status—is not the currency used in heaven. Godliness is (1 Timothy 4:8).
Therefore, what shall it profit you if…
- You have two houses on earth but no mansion in heaven?
- You dress in the finest clothes but are not clothed in the white robe of righteousness?
- You achieve worldwide fame but do not have your name in the Lamb’s book of life?
- You gain the whole world but lose your soul?
Life does not consist in the abundance of the things you possess (Luke 12:15).
