Lifemodes Of The Affluent And Illustrious
Youth Resources
REVIVING THE SPARK
Study Skits Of Biblical Truths For Youth
Characters:
James Bleach
Winthrop J. Charleton III
Harry Silverspoon
(Theme music for Lifemodes)
Bleach:
How does America's foremost business mogul live? We visited the elegant chalet of Winthrop J. Charleton III to find out. Charleton, head of the prestigious Charleton Corporation, with 987 Squidburger franchise outlets throughout the United States, carved his abode out of a mountainside overlooking the city of Commonplace, 9,000 feet below. And what a place it is. Winthrophaven, as he fondly calls it, boasts a full-sized theater and concert hall where he regularly imports entertainment groups such as the Philadelphia Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bolshoi Ballet, or the International Circus. Winthrop has his choice of three championship golf courses to play, one of which is indoors in case of inclement weather. Rounding out the facilities are a multipurpose sports stadium, a water park, a zoo, his own private shopping mall, a theme park, and an airport equipped to accommodate his own private fleet of 747's. And the house isn't too shabby either, sporting 365 bedrooms, each with a bathroom and gymnasium. Winthrop explains that he can't sleep in the same bedroom more than once a year. But now, let's meet the man who has made the Squidburger the rage of America, and try to discover the secret of his success. (Charleton enters to great applause led by Bleach) Mr. Charleton, we're all curious. Where do you sleep on February 29th every leap year?
Charleton: I contemplated building an additional bedroom, but that seemed too extravagant. So instead, I bought out the calendar makers and decreed an end to the leap year.
Bleach: Very creative. You've got quite a place here, but where do you go when things get boring?
Charleton: I fly off to various cities such as London, Paris, Rio, or Tokyo, and see how much money I can spend in a twelve-hour period. Broke my record last week when I dropped three-and-a-half billion in (your hometown).
Bleach: So what do you attribute your success to?
Charleton: That's easy, James. I'm the greatest mind that ever lived.
Bleach: Well, you can't argue with success. Good night, everyone. Stay tuned for News at Six.
(Lifemodes theme plays while Charleton and Bleach exit. Out comes a news anchor who sits behind a desk. On comes the news theme.)
Silverspoon: Good evening, this is News at Six, Harry Silverspoon reporting. Top story for this hour: Congress, alarmed at reports of the rapid decline in the world's squid population, has passed and sent to the President's desk a bill proclaiming the squid an endangered species and effecting a twenty-year ban on its harvesting. The President, who only yesterday was quoted as saying, "Save the squids," is expected to sign the legislation. Meanwhile, stocks in the giant Charleton Corporation have plummeted 99 percent. Most analysts expect the downward trend to continue. Turning to other news, leaders of both major parties are at loggerheads again over ...
(Lights fade out)
Lifemodes Of The Affluent And Illustrious
Questions to consider:
1. What is the appeal of wealth? Why do many of us strive so hard to obtain it?
2. What would it be like to be rich?
3. Why do the Scriptures warn against wearying ourselves to gain wealth?
The key point:
One of the strongest drives in the human species is the desire for wealth. Riches seem to be the key to obtaining whatever we want, whenever we want. But riches without God have a number of pitfalls:
1. Preoccupation with worldly things rather than God
2. Higher taxes
3. Increased chance of becoming a victim (the more you have, the bigger a target you are)
4. Increased worry (there is more to lose)
5. More time and money spent on repair and maintenance (the more you have, the more those things break down)
6. Distrust in friendships (is he a friend for what you are or what you have?)
7. Increased temptation toward dishonesty (get rich quick)
8. Poverty in relationships (things become more important than family and friends)
9. No satisfaction (you will never have enough money)
10. No permanence (when you die, you can't take it with you).
Should the Christian, then, seek poverty? Not at all. "The hand of the diligent makes rich" (Proverbs 10:4). "It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it" (Proverbs 10:22).
So what is the difference between wealth obtained the world's way or God's way? Worldly riches are self-serving, sometimes obtained dishonestly, and almost always bring about sorrow. Wealth obtained God's way comes about honestly. It usually comes slowly through hard work, prudent spending, and wise investment. The goal is to be a burden to no one, to meet the needs of our families, to give to the work of God's kingdom, and to have something to share with those who are in need.
The key is where our priorities lie. The truly rich man is one whose life is focused on knowing God and using his gifts to serve Him. Men so focused discover that money fades in significance before family and friends and God's overarching eternal purpose.
James Bleach
Winthrop J. Charleton III
Harry Silverspoon
(Theme music for Lifemodes)
Bleach:
How does America's foremost business mogul live? We visited the elegant chalet of Winthrop J. Charleton III to find out. Charleton, head of the prestigious Charleton Corporation, with 987 Squidburger franchise outlets throughout the United States, carved his abode out of a mountainside overlooking the city of Commonplace, 9,000 feet below. And what a place it is. Winthrophaven, as he fondly calls it, boasts a full-sized theater and concert hall where he regularly imports entertainment groups such as the Philadelphia Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bolshoi Ballet, or the International Circus. Winthrop has his choice of three championship golf courses to play, one of which is indoors in case of inclement weather. Rounding out the facilities are a multipurpose sports stadium, a water park, a zoo, his own private shopping mall, a theme park, and an airport equipped to accommodate his own private fleet of 747's. And the house isn't too shabby either, sporting 365 bedrooms, each with a bathroom and gymnasium. Winthrop explains that he can't sleep in the same bedroom more than once a year. But now, let's meet the man who has made the Squidburger the rage of America, and try to discover the secret of his success. (Charleton enters to great applause led by Bleach) Mr. Charleton, we're all curious. Where do you sleep on February 29th every leap year?
Charleton: I contemplated building an additional bedroom, but that seemed too extravagant. So instead, I bought out the calendar makers and decreed an end to the leap year.
Bleach: Very creative. You've got quite a place here, but where do you go when things get boring?
Charleton: I fly off to various cities such as London, Paris, Rio, or Tokyo, and see how much money I can spend in a twelve-hour period. Broke my record last week when I dropped three-and-a-half billion in (your hometown).
Bleach: So what do you attribute your success to?
Charleton: That's easy, James. I'm the greatest mind that ever lived.
Bleach: Well, you can't argue with success. Good night, everyone. Stay tuned for News at Six.
(Lifemodes theme plays while Charleton and Bleach exit. Out comes a news anchor who sits behind a desk. On comes the news theme.)
Silverspoon: Good evening, this is News at Six, Harry Silverspoon reporting. Top story for this hour: Congress, alarmed at reports of the rapid decline in the world's squid population, has passed and sent to the President's desk a bill proclaiming the squid an endangered species and effecting a twenty-year ban on its harvesting. The President, who only yesterday was quoted as saying, "Save the squids," is expected to sign the legislation. Meanwhile, stocks in the giant Charleton Corporation have plummeted 99 percent. Most analysts expect the downward trend to continue. Turning to other news, leaders of both major parties are at loggerheads again over ...
(Lights fade out)
Lifemodes Of The Affluent And Illustrious
Questions to consider:
1. What is the appeal of wealth? Why do many of us strive so hard to obtain it?
2. What would it be like to be rich?
3. Why do the Scriptures warn against wearying ourselves to gain wealth?
The key point:
One of the strongest drives in the human species is the desire for wealth. Riches seem to be the key to obtaining whatever we want, whenever we want. But riches without God have a number of pitfalls:
1. Preoccupation with worldly things rather than God
2. Higher taxes
3. Increased chance of becoming a victim (the more you have, the bigger a target you are)
4. Increased worry (there is more to lose)
5. More time and money spent on repair and maintenance (the more you have, the more those things break down)
6. Distrust in friendships (is he a friend for what you are or what you have?)
7. Increased temptation toward dishonesty (get rich quick)
8. Poverty in relationships (things become more important than family and friends)
9. No satisfaction (you will never have enough money)
10. No permanence (when you die, you can't take it with you).
Should the Christian, then, seek poverty? Not at all. "The hand of the diligent makes rich" (Proverbs 10:4). "It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it" (Proverbs 10:22).
So what is the difference between wealth obtained the world's way or God's way? Worldly riches are self-serving, sometimes obtained dishonestly, and almost always bring about sorrow. Wealth obtained God's way comes about honestly. It usually comes slowly through hard work, prudent spending, and wise investment. The goal is to be a burden to no one, to meet the needs of our families, to give to the work of God's kingdom, and to have something to share with those who are in need.
The key is where our priorities lie. The truly rich man is one whose life is focused on knowing God and using his gifts to serve Him. Men so focused discover that money fades in significance before family and friends and God's overarching eternal purpose.
