The Bible and Life

Friday, November 8, 2024

Giving To Others

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

Here is a well-known story from an unknown source that I wanted to share.

Text: 2 Corinthians 9:7.

Thomas Edison and Henry Ford

THE WORLD'S FIRST BILLIONAIRE

John D. Rockefeller (July 8, 1839–May 23, 1937), the founder of Standard Oil, was once the richest man in the world. He was the world’s first billionaire.

"He amassed a net worth of at least $1 billion in 1916. When Rockefeller died in 1937, his net worth was estimated to be approximately $340 billion in today's dollars."

By the age of 25, he had one of the largest oil refineries in the United States. He was 31 when he became the world's largest oil refiner. At 38, he controlled 90% of the oil refined in the United States. At fifty, John was America's richest man. As a young man, every action, attitude, and connection was crafted to establish his wealth.

But at the age of 53, he fell unwell. His entire body became wracked with pain, and he lost all his hair. In total anguish, the world's lone millionaire could buy anything he wanted but could only eat soup and crackers.

Ford Model-T

According to an associate, "He couldn't sleep, wouldn't smile, and nothing in life meant anything to him". His personal, highly trained physicians indicated that he would die within the year. That year passed painfully slowly. As he approached death, he awoke one morning with the faint understanding that he would not be able to bring any of his fortune with him to the next world.

The man who could dominate the commercial world suddenly realised he had no control over his personal life. He informed his solicitors, accountants, and management that he intended to devote his assets to hospitals, research, and charity work. John D. Rockefeller started his foundation.

The Rockefeller Foundation financed Howard Florey and his colleague Norman Heatley's penicillin research in 1941. But arguably the most astounding aspect of Rockefeller's narrative is that when he began to give back a fraction of all he had gained, his body's chemistry changed dramatically, and he recovered.

He was expected to die at the age of 53, but he survived to reach 98 years old. Rockefeller learnt gratitude and returned the great bulk of his money. This made him whole. It's one thing to be healed. It is another to become fit. He was a devout Baptist who attended the Euclid Avenue Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio.

John Rockefeller

Before he died, he wrote in his diary: "God taught me that everything belongs to Him, and I am merely a conduit to carry out His will. My life has been one long, happy holiday since then; full of work and play, I let go of my worries along the road, and God was wonderful to me every day.

William James Roop

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Friday, November 1, 2024

Helping Others

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

Here is a story by an unknown author about the importance of helping others.

Text: 2 Corinthians 9:7.

Thomas Edison

In 1896, Thomas Edison, the great inventor of the electric bulb, was working on a car design when he learned that a young man in his company had created an experimental car. Edison met this young man, Henry Ford, at a company party in New York and was thoroughly impressed by his gasoline-powered car idea.

Edison, who had been considering electricity as a power source, enthusiastically encouraged Ford, saying, "Young man, that's the thing! You have it! I think you are on to something! I encourage you to continue your pursuits!"

Encouraged by the respected inventor, Henry Ford continued his work, eventually inventing a car that made him wealthy.

On December 9, 1914, Edison's laboratory and factory were destroyed by fire. At 67 years old, the damage was too extensive for insurance to cover. Before the ashes were cold, Henry Ford handed Edison a check for $750,000 ($23 million today) with a note saying Edison could have more if needed.

In 1916, Ford relocated his home next to Edison's. When Edison was later confined to a wheelchair, Ford also got a wheelchair so they could race each other. Thomas Edison made Henry Ford believe in himself, creating a friendship for life.

Thomas Edison & Henry Ford

LESSON:

Don't ever be jealous of others' success. If you can't win a race, help the person in front of you break the record. Your candle doesn't lose its light by lighting another. Let us follow this example of supporting and uplifting each other!

William James Roop

Friday, October 25, 2024

Never Judge A Book By Its Cover

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

Here is a well-known story from an unknown author.

Text: John 7:24.

A couple, the woman in modest attire and her husband in a simple suit, arrived unannounced at Harvard University's principal office after disembarking from a train at Boston Station. The receptionist, judging them hastily, initially dismissed their purpose.

"We would like to meet with the principal," the man requested quietly.

"He's occupied all day," the secretary curtly replied.

"We'll wait," the woman asserted.

Hours passed with the couple patiently seated, prompting the secretary to reluctantly inform the director of their persistence.

"Perhaps if you meet with them briefly, they'll leave on their own," she suggested.

Grudgingly, the director acquiesced. Upon their entrance, he scrutinized them with a stern gaze.

The woman spoke softly:

"Our son studied here and cherished this place. Sadly, he passed away unexpectedly a year ago. We wish to establish a memorial in his honor."

The director, visibly annoyed, retorted, "We can't erect memorials for every student who dies. It would turn this place into a cemetery."

"No, not a memorial or statue," the woman interjected hastily. "We wish to build a new building for Harvard."

The director scoffed, noting their modest attire, "Do you have any idea how much that would cost? Our buildings are valued at over seven million dollars."

The woman paused briefly before calmly saying to her husband, "Is building a university that inexpensive? Perhaps we should start our own."

With a nod of agreement, they left without further discussion. The director was left bewildered as the couple departed.

In Palo Alto, California, they indeed founded a university in memory of their son – Stanford University.

William James Roop

Friday, October 18, 2024

Obedient Out Of Passion?

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

Here is a short message from David Schaal that I wanted to share with you.

Text: John 14:15.

The other day, Hunter my 6 year old shocked me as I came in the door. He said Dad, did the trash man come yet? I said, “I think so,” he said,” Good, I will go get the trash can and bring it in.” I thought, “ I am such a great leader, I have taught my son the responsibilities of taking care of and taking pride in his chores. I watched him run to the curb, and joyfully bring in the trashcan.

As I was sitting eating my lunch, reality hit. Hunter comes up to me and says, “Dad, it sure is hot out there, do you think we can go swimming?” Now- I did not know, what just happened here? Was I being set up?- Was he only performing his chores because he hoped to gain something, or was he doing it out of enthusiasm?

When we react in obedience to God, is it because we are trying to set God up? Or are we obedient out of passion?

Friday, October 11, 2024

The Key To Revival

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

Here is part of a book called God's Generals (The Revivalists), Roberts Liardon.

Text: Psalm 51.

THE KEY TO REVIVAL.

Charles Finney felt that prayer played a major part in the work of the revival. He wrote that “the key which unlocked the Heavens in this revival was the prayer of [Abel] Clary, Father Nash, and other unnamed folk who laid themselves prostrate before God’s throne and besought Him for a divine outpouring.”

When Charles heard that Clary was in town, he remarked, “I have not seen him at any of our meetings.” The man who told him of Clary’s attendance responded, “No...he cannot go to meetings, he says. He prays nearly all the time, day and night, and in such an agony of mind that I do not know what to make of it. Sometimes he cannot even stand on his knees, but will lie prostrate on the floor, and groan and pray in a manner that quite astounds me.” Charles replied, “I understand it; please keep still. It will all come out right; he will surely prevail.”

He knew what this spirit of prayer was doing and he knew better than to do anything to interfere with it. Of this kind of fervent prayer, Charles said, I have never seen a person sweat blood, but I do know a person who prayed until his nose bled. And people have prayed until drenched with sweat, even in the coldest winter. Some have prayed for hours until their strength was exhausted from the labor of their minds. Such prayers reached out and took hold of God.

William James Roop

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Friday, October 4, 2024

Spiritual Trust

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

Here is a funny story about trust from an unknown author.

Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 9:10.

The story is told of the pioneer days in our country. A man was making his way west when he came to the Missouri River. It was winter and the ice covered the river from bank to bank. But how could the man be sure it would hold his weight? He knew people often drowned in that river when the ice broke. Yet he had to cross.

He walked out a little way, then gripped with fear he crawled on his hands and knees. He looked back and saw how far the bank was now behind him and knew he would drown if the ice broke and the frigid water swallowed him up. To spread his weight even more, he lay out flat on his belly and slowly drew himself sliding across the river a few inches at time.

All of a sudden from behind him he heard whistling. He whipped his head around and there saw a big man, a farmer, walking across the ice leading a team of horses drawing a heavy wooden sleigh full of hay. He was smiling and whistling and tipped his hat. The timid man stood and brushed off the ice crystals and managed a sheepish smile. That old farmer had crossed the ice many times and knew it could be trusted.

William James Roop