Treasure and Trouble

In a capitalist society, wealth can be the reward for hard work. It is also a danger. Millard Fuller, the founder of Habitat for Humanity, became a millionaire by age twenty-nine. He bought his wife everything her eyes desired. But one day he came home to an empty house and a farewell note. Fuller caught up with his wife in New York City. She explained that the things that were supposed to satisfy had left her empty. They decided together to sell everything they had. They dedicated themselves to helping the poor have decent and affordable housing. Fuller wrote, "We were giving up a whole way of life that was killing us."

David Kellermann, Adolf Merckle, and Thierry de la Villehuchet. Three men, three nationalities. All headed huge financial empires. All were millionaires, perhaps billionaires. And all, in recent months, died by their own hand.

Work is good. Wealth may or may not be. Is your wealth life-giving or life-destroying? Is it a wise or foolish path you're traveling?

Prayer: Lord, make me wise in work and life for the sake of those closest to me. Amen.

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