Colossians 3:23 (NIV)
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as
working for the Lord, not for human masters.
Alfred Nobel (1833-96) was a Swedish chemist who invented
dynamite. During his lifetime, he made millions of dollars from the manufacture
of high explosives. His inventions so magnified the killing power of weapons
that some trace the history of modern warfare to him.
One morning in 1888, Nobel opened his newspaper only to
find an article about his death! It was his brother who had died, however, and
a careless editor had run the more famous Alfred's obituary. What a shock and
revelation the experience proved to be! Alfred Nobel was afforded the
opportunity to see himself through the eyes of his peers.
Much to his chagrin, the article about Nobel portrayed
him as the Dynamite King and let him know that he would be remembered as a
merchant of death who made a fortune by making war more destructive. His legacy
to the world would be more efficient methods of killing people.
Dismayed over such a prospect, Alfred Nobel determined to
do something about it. Under the conditions of his will, he left more than $9
million to fund five prizes to be distributed yearly in equal parts to those
who were judged to have contributed most to helping mankind. Thus did the man
who invented dynamite forever link his name to the cause of peace.
How will people remember you? As someone who loved his
company and did things with his family, or vice versa? As a person of
integrity? As one whose genuine faith produced the good fruit of Christian behavior?
As with Alfred Nobel, you can choose how you will be
remembered. Will you be remembered as one that loved God and did all you could
for Him?
Dear Lord, we pray that we would be people of integrity.
Help the things that we do and are remembered for would bring honor to You. In
Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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