“There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth.” (Proverbs 13:7, NAS)
It was kind of funny, but not in the hilarious sort of way. Weird funny. Winston and Jacob were so different and yet met the same fate on the same day, bleeding the same color of blood. Both men were making a deposit that Monday when the two masked men stormed into the bank.
Winston’s wealth was public knowledge—he was anything but shy about showing off his affluence. The day he made his first million, he declared himself richer than God Himself and changed his name from Bob Smith to Winston Rich III. There was no senior Winston or junior before him—he just thought the Roman numerals at the end sounded good. Dignified. Important.
Jacob took care of his finances but without broadcasting them to everyone around him. He was born a Potter and died a Potter that day in the bank, next to the guy who insisted on three I’s added to his name for no reason. Jacob received a generous bonus one year, so he took his wife and four children to the Black Hills to celebrate. They adored him.Winston had no children.
Jacob was depositing money to pay for his son, Josiah’s, mission trip to Peru. The check was put in his account later. Josiah left a month after the funeral. The Potter account had $200 left in it when it was all said and done. Jacob wasn’t a bad manager of his money—he just gave it to anyone who was in need. He always said he felt such great joy when God allowed him to bless others. But, he never neglected his family either, even in his death. A generous life insurance policy was there for them. He owed not a single cent to a single person or creditor.
Mr. Rich died with several millions in multiple bank accounts. The few people who attended his funeral looked to see if there were $100 bills in the casket. He always said he was going to take it with him, but it wasn’t there. He was, however, buried in the most expensive suit available and a ridiculously overpriced casket. The funeral home was pleased with their profit, and the siblings didn’t care—none of the estate was going to them anyway. They hadn’t even talked to Bob, or whatever his name was, for years. The irony of him dying while in a bank made them laugh. In the end, his money could not save him. Sad.
This account is fiction, but I wonder how many people live as the two men in the story. Makes me think. Winston, indeed, was sure he was rich. Everyone he encountered in his life thought he was wealthy. But, to me—he seemed steeped in poverty. How sad if a man dies with no one to miss him. Jacob, on the other hand, was seen as poor in this world. And yet, I think a life such as his was prosperous. He left a rich legacy that lived on in his children and beyond.
I like the way The Message puts Proverbs 13:7 –
“A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life.”
Lord, help me to live to be rich—but only in You. If the world thinks I’m poor, so be it.
“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life [in the eternal kingdom of God]?” (Mark 8:36, Amplified Bible)
©2013 Tammy Maseberg All Rights Reserved
