There is a Day coming in which God will test our works, our deeds, our preaching, our teaching, our worship—everything, by fire. If your preaching, your teaching, your prayers, your charity are according to the will of God, then you will see what has been built standing the test. But that which is built of wood, hay or stubble will be burnt up.
Once a very wealthy lady, who was a good Christian, dreamed that she went to heaven. There among many beautiful mansions, she saw a particularly grand mansion in one corner. Seeing an angel she enquired to whom the mansion belonged, and he told her that it belonged to her serving-maid, who washed her vessels and made her fire every day.
When she heard this, she felt very happy, and said to herself: ‘If my servant woman has such a big mansion, then mine must be even greater’. A little further on she saw a hut, and asked to whom that belonged. ‘Madam, that belongs to you,’ said the angel. She was so angry. ‘That is not just,’ she cried, ‘you are giving my servant, who cannot even read, such a big mansion, and the building you have for me is just a small hut of straw. Why is that?’
And the angel said to her, ‘Madam, we are only building with the material which is sent to us from earth. That woman is sending us gold and silver, and with such material we are building that mansion. You are sending us only wood, hay and stubble and with it we are only able to build a hut.’ Then she said: “But I have given thousands of rupees to charity. I attend worship every Sunday and I am on all the Committees. Every Christmas Day I give large gifts. I built that Hospital, that School Hall. How can you say I am only sending wood, hay and stubble?”
And the angel told her : ‘You are doing everything before the eyes of men; you are not serving God. You are doing all these things in order to be regarded as a great woman, and to get a name for yourself. That poor woman, she is only your servant, but look and see how faithfully she serves you, and how she prays day and night for your family, and for every guest that comes into your house. Because of her prayers many souls have been saved. You, however, can only talk and talk about your mutton and chicken dishes, and have no thought for God’s message.’ In this way all that you are doing is to give hay and straw to God’.
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Ponder over this story. Search your heart, and your life. Are you building with hay and straw? This is addressed to evangelical Christians. Don’t waste your life on the trivial things of this world. Focus on Christ and the things above, Col 3:1, 2.
Hope sincere seekers of God and Christ will be convicted by this!
Once a very wealthy lady, who was a good Christian, dreamed that she went to heaven. There among many beautiful mansions, she saw a particularly grand mansion in one corner. Seeing an angel she enquired to whom the mansion belonged, and he told her that it belonged to her serving-maid, who washed her vessels and made her fire every day.
When she heard this, she felt very happy, and said to herself: ‘If my servant woman has such a big mansion, then mine must be even greater’. A little further on she saw a hut, and asked to whom that belonged. ‘Madam, that belongs to you,’ said the angel. She was so angry. ‘That is not just,’ she cried, ‘you are giving my servant, who cannot even read, such a big mansion, and the building you have for me is just a small hut of straw. Why is that?’
And the angel said to her, ‘Madam, we are only building with the material which is sent to us from earth. That woman is sending us gold and silver, and with such material we are building that mansion. You are sending us only wood, hay and stubble and with it we are only able to build a hut.’ Then she said: “But I have given thousands of rupees to charity. I attend worship every Sunday and I am on all the Committees. Every Christmas Day I give large gifts. I built that Hospital, that School Hall. How can you say I am only sending wood, hay and stubble?”
And the angel told her : ‘You are doing everything before the eyes of men; you are not serving God. You are doing all these things in order to be regarded as a great woman, and to get a name for yourself. That poor woman, she is only your servant, but look and see how faithfully she serves you, and how she prays day and night for your family, and for every guest that comes into your house. Because of her prayers many souls have been saved. You, however, can only talk and talk about your mutton and chicken dishes, and have no thought for God’s message.’ In this way all that you are doing is to give hay and straw to God’.
****
Ponder over this story. Search your heart, and your life. Are you building with hay and straw? This is addressed to evangelical Christians. Don’t waste your life on the trivial things of this world. Focus on Christ and the things above, Col 3:1, 2.
Hope sincere seekers of God and Christ will be convicted by this!
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