Poor/Rich Boy
Preaching
Windows For Life
Inspirational And Devotional Illustrations
The late Albert Schweitzer was a famous medical missionary to Africa, as well as a musician and theologian. Why would such a great man spend the prime years of his life ministering to poor black people in such a place when he could have achieved a name for himself in classical music or as a teacher in a theological school in Europe?
He told this story:
There once was a boy, the son of a well-to-do father. He wore nice clothes, lived in a nice house, and ate very good food. One day he got into a scuffle with another boy who lived down the street. The other boy came from a poor family, lived in a cheap house, wore ragged clothes, and had less to eat than had the first boy. The rich boy won the scuffle.
The poor boy dusted himself off and said that if he had food to eat like the rich boy had, he could have thrown down the rich boy. The rich boy never forgot the experience because he knew quite well that what the other boy had said was true.
From that day on he revolted against any favored treatment just because he was rich. He even dressed in cheaper clothes, and endured the hardships of the poor whenever it was likely he could.
That boy grew up to become the famous Dr. Albert Schweitzer.
Ezekiel 3:15 suggests that same spirit. Not a bad idea for us.
He told this story:
There once was a boy, the son of a well-to-do father. He wore nice clothes, lived in a nice house, and ate very good food. One day he got into a scuffle with another boy who lived down the street. The other boy came from a poor family, lived in a cheap house, wore ragged clothes, and had less to eat than had the first boy. The rich boy won the scuffle.
The poor boy dusted himself off and said that if he had food to eat like the rich boy had, he could have thrown down the rich boy. The rich boy never forgot the experience because he knew quite well that what the other boy had said was true.
From that day on he revolted against any favored treatment just because he was rich. He even dressed in cheaper clothes, and endured the hardships of the poor whenever it was likely he could.
That boy grew up to become the famous Dr. Albert Schweitzer.
Ezekiel 3:15 suggests that same spirit. Not a bad idea for us.
