George W. Truett, a well-known pastor, was invited to dinner in the home of a very wealthy man in Texas. After the meal, the host led him to a place where they could get a good view of the surrounding area.

Pointing to the oil wells punctuating the landscape, he boasted, 'twenty-five years ago I had nothing. Now, as far as you can see, it's all mine.? Looking in the opposite direction at his sprawling fields of grain, he said, 'that's all mine.? Turning east toward huge herds of cattle, he bragged, 'they're all mine.?

Then pointing to the west and a beautiful forest, he exclaimed, 'that too is all mine.'

He paused, expecting Dr. Truett to compliment him on his great success. Truett, however, placing one hand on the man's shoulder and pointing heavenward with the other, simply said, "How much do you have in that direction"? The man hung his head and confessed, "I never thought of that.?

Our Daily Bread, October 24, 1992