Money the most important thing in Life? Story of a man Called Steve

 Short Story of a man called Steve.

This is a story about a boy called Steve.  His parents died when he was young and at the age of 9 years old he moved from one foster parent to the next.  He was a tough kid, never shed a tear and refused to.  It was for the weak.  He looked for peace, true peace and love but couldn’t find it.  At the age of 12 he read a book by called Money, and said, “This is the most important thing in this life”, he dedicated the next 10 years of his life pursuing more money through education.  At the age of 29 he invented a highly resistant to weather car paint.  This was revolutionary and had many car buyers competing for his patent.  At the age of 31 he was a Billionaire – He bought anything his heart desired - houses, cars and had big parties.  One day after his party, sitting on his porch overlooking his fields his heart was still heavy.  He thought that money was the key to life but yet he felt empty.  So, he decided to visit the neighborhood where he grew up as an observer.  He down dressed and bought an old broken car.  He already received many letters from people who he grew up with begging for money and didn’t want them to recognize him as he drove through the streets.  One evening just before sunset as he took a drive through the streets, he stopped outside one of the houses.  He noticed a family sitting around a table to eat.  They had nothing really on the table yet they bowed their head to pray, when done they started eating.  They seemed happy.  Was money really the key to peace?  He had lots of it and everything seemed so fake.  His friends fake, the women he knew were fake, even the stuff he had was …. Bla - fake, just stuff in a toy chest. 

Getting ready for a shower, he noticed a red swollen mark under his armpit.  He never noticed this before.  He called the doctor who quickly had him go for the best doctors and examinations that money could buy.  The doctors confirmed his fear – Lymphoma Cancer. Fear set in and Steve didn’t know who to turn to, his money couldn’t help him.  As he started his 2^nd round of Chemo – he thought, if he could he would give all my money to be healthy again.  So, health was more important than money.  But why wasn’t he satisfied when he had the health. In one of the Chemo sessions as he sat in the waiting area, a Christian came up to him gave him a New Testament which Steve put into his pocket.  The man proceeded to tell Steve about Yeshua, God’s love for him and that surrendering to Yeshua is the answer to true peace.  Just then Steve snapped and swore at the Christian, telling him to bug someone else and this was a fairy tale.  After Steve had completed the 2^nd round of Chemo and further testing, the doctor called Steve into his office and told him that he had less than 1 year to live.  Steve went home, switched off the phone, moped around and isolated himself from friends and family. One morning, after 10months, he decided to leave the house and walk to the nearby park. On the way, a deep red rose caught his eye. He studied this rose, he couldn’t make this rich textural colour in all of his paint shops. It was beautiful, just then a bee flew out, his wings glistening from the sun.  He looked at all the flowers and trees on the way to the park.  He forgot that he was sick because he enjoyed the very moment. As he stood at the park pondering on why he felt good, he realised that enjoying the moment, the time was precious.  And if he savoured all the time in moments, he would have been more fulfilled.  So enjoying the moment was more important than Health, was more important than Money.  He sat down on a nearby park bench and couldn’t help thinking, if he lived every day and moment to the fullest, he would still die.  The future of the unknown troubled his heart.  He picked a flower and put it into his jacket pocket.  It brushed against a book.  He pulled the book, it was the Bible the young man gave him. He flipped open and started reading.  The title read “Yeshua in Heaven waiting for you John 14” and proceeded. 

 

Was this a coincidence that he arrived on the very same passage that called out “Let not your heart be troubled” He read further “Ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” Was this true, was there a place beyond death.  He turned to a bookmarked page the young man had obviously placed – John 3.  The scripture was highlighted “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” And continued to read until evening.  He went down on his knees and repented for rejecting God and His Son.  He confessed that He surrendered his life to Yeshua and needed his help. At that moment peace and joy filled his heart that he couldn’t explain. He got up saying Hope in the Eternal, is greater than the moment, is greater than health and greater than money.  Walking home thinking on the events of the day, he looked up and spoke to God as his Heavenly father.  Tears rolled down his cheeks as he realised there was some greater than hope – it was knowing and receiving the love of God.  The final 2 months Steve was full of life and his joy infected the people around him.  Steve had the key to life – was a grateful relationship with God as His Heavenly Father, all because of Yeshua sacrifice.