Evangelist Ron Dunn tells the story of a man who was one of the wealthiest people in the United Kingdom in the 1950s. Over the course of his life, this man had acquired an art collection that was worth millions of dollars. He had paintings by Rembrandt, Gauguin, Monet, and many other great artists.
The rich man had no heirs. His only son had been an RAF pilot and was killed in action during World War II. So when he died the estate was to be liquidated. His will directed that the art collection be sold at auction.
Buyers from all over the world came to London hoping to acquire
some of the famous paintings. When the auction began, the first piece
brought out for bidding was a painting the audience didn’t
recognize. The auctioneer explained that it was a portrait of the
owner’s beloved son who had died in the war. It had been painted by
an unknown artist and wasn’t even a very good portrait, but the will
stipulated that it was to be sold first.
The auction began, but no one wanted to bid on the portrait.
Despite the auctioneer’s cajoling and coaxing, there were no bids.
Finally, an elderly man in the back of the crowd raised his hand and
asked permission to speak. He explained that he was a servant of the
owner and had served faithfully in his household for many years. He
had seen the son grow up and loved him very much. He said he wanted
the painting but didn’t have much money so he was able to bid only a
few dollars.
The auctioneer accepted his bid and tried to get others in the
crowd to raise it, but no one would. Finally, he declared the
portrait sold to the elderly servant. Then, to the shock and
amazement of everyone present, he announced that the auction was
over. It turned out that the will further stipulated that the person
who bought the painting of the son was to receive the entire art
collection without further charge. Whoever got the son got the whole
lot.
That’s the way it is with Christianity: whoever gets the Son gets
the whole lot.
TOPICS
SUFFICIENCY, CHRIST’S
JESUS CHRIST
GENEROSITY, GOD’S
SALVATION
SCRIPTURES
1 JOHN 5:12,20
JOHN 1:12
1 CORINTHIANS 1:30
2 PETER 1:3
ROMANS 8:32
1 CORINTHIANS 3:21