True wealth

September 1, 2006

By William E. Richardson

“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:20, NKJV).

Their names were Charles and Oswald. Both lived in difficult times. The work of both men, which came to public attention in 1935, lives on today. Both were wealthy, in different ways.

In the early 1930s Charles Darrow did what a lot of Americans did during the Great Depression — he remembered better days. Especially vacations. With fondness, he recalled boyhood trips to Atlantic City, N.J. He even reflected on the names of the streets and the train lines that took people there. Adding a few new elements, he made his own board game.

Darrow had invented the game Monopoly. Parker Brothers began selling it in 1935. People with very little money could pretend to be wealthy while playing Monopoly. The best-selling board game of the Depression went on to become the best-seller of the century. Darrow became a millionaire.

Also in 1935 a new devotional titled My Utmost for His Highest began selling. Like Monopoly, the devotional went on to outsell all others in its field. Yet the author never knew it. Oswald Chambers served as a military chaplain in Egypt during World War I. His death in 1917 ended his life but not his influence.

Chambers’ wife, a stenographer, had taken notes on every sermon she’d heard her husband preach. Years after his death, she arranged some sermon pieces into devotional form. My Utmost for His Highest began selling in 1935 and has never been out of print.

Both Charles Darrow and Oswald Chambers came to wider public attention in the same year. Both were wealthy. Darrow’s riches, based on looking to the past, included money that can be lost or stolen. Chambers’ wealth, including a wonderful wife and lives changed for eternity, is based on looking to the future. His wealth is not at risk.

When it comes to personal wealth, few of us are a Charles Darrow, but we can all be an Oswald Chambers. Part of our true wealth is measured by family, friends and abilities God has granted us. The rest of our wealth is determined by our stewardship of what God gives us.

Oswald Chambers lived only 43 years, yet died as one of the wealthiest men of his day because he invested in eternity. He may not have made daily deposits into an earthly account, but each day his balance in heaven grew.

Your eternal wealth, which can’t decay nor ever be stolen, depends on the daily deposits you make to your account in heaven. Are you living today for true wealth?

William E. Richardson is senior pastor of Afton (Iowa) Assembly of God.