“There is a blessed
kind of giving, which,
though it makes the purse
lighter, makes the crown heavier”
(Thomas Watson)
Good movie to watch on
Christmas Eve. The film Schindler’s List
chronicled the heroic efforts of a German industrialist named Oskar Schindler. Through
his unselfish activities, over a thousand Jews on the trains to Auschwitz were
saved. Although the film, even on television, has some very graphic and
disturbing scenes, the message itself is profound.
After Schindler found out
what was happening at Auschwitz (one of German Nazi’s concentration camps), he
began a systematic effort to save as many Jews as he could. For money, he would
buy Jews to work in his factory which was supposed to be a part of the military
machine of Germany. On one hand he was buying as many Jews as he could, and on
the other hand he was deliberately sabotaging the ammunition produced in his
factory. He entered the war a wealthy industrialist; by the end of the war, he
was basically bankrupt.
When the Germans surrendered,
Schindler met with his workers and declared that at midnight they were all free
to go. The most emotional scene of the film was when Schindler said good-bye to
the financial manager of the plant, a Jew and his good and trusted friend. As he
embraced his friend, Schindler sobbed and said, “I could have done more.” He looked at his automobile and asked, “Why did I save this? I could have bought 10
Jews with this.” Taking another small possession he cried, “This would have saved another one. Why didn’t
I do more?”
Friends, one day Jesus is
going to split the eastern sky and come for his own. It will not matter then
how much money we have in mutual fund or how many bedrooms we have in our
homes. The temporary satisfaction we have in vacations and nice cars will be
gone. Only what we have done for the cause of Christ will matter. “Only what’s
done for Christ, will last.” This is the message of Christmas I learned
strongly this year. Give. Give. Give.
THINK BIG.
START SMALL. GO DEEP.
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