“The Mule and the Rolls Royce”

Jesus said, “… a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” (Luke 12:15)

Years ago, when we first moved to Haiti, we lived up in the mountains of “Mountain Noire.” We were so poor, probably the poorest of all missionaries. But we were in God’s will, so I never thought about being poor.

Bobby had an acquaintance, a pastor, who was caught up in some teaching that was good back then. It simply meant, “if you are rich, you are blessed by God.” Which also meant, “if you are poor, you weren’t blessed.” Personally, I did not like this man. He was arrogant. He always talked about “what he had” and “how blessed he was.” When he came to Haiti, Bobby wanted to take him to our orphanage. Back then, it was a rented house with broken down cars in the front. Our orphanage refrigerator was about to “give up the ghost,” and the door finally dropped off of it!

This man always talked about his possessions… his big house, his big church, his plane, etc. One day, he called Bobby while I was in the mountains. I had taken our four-wheel-drive jeep up the mountains, and I believe it was to visit a sick pastor. When I got there, I had to go the rest of the way by mule. The pastor said, “Bobby, I just finished buying my wife a new Rolls Royce. What is your wife driving?” Bobby thought about it and said, “Well, right now, she’s on a mule going further into the mountains.” I may have had the mule and she may have had the Rolls Royce, but I was far “richer” than she was!

Living in Haiti has taught me, “… where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:21)

Sherry