Uncle Tom had a weak heart and the doctor had warned him to be very careful. So when the family learned that he had inherited a billion dollars from a deceased relative they feared to break the news to him lest the news give him a heart attack.
So they sought the services of the local pastor, who assured them he would find a way. "Tell me, Tom," said Father Murphy, "if God, in his mercy, were to send you a billion dollars, what would you do with it?"
"I'd give half of it to you for the Church, Father."
When he heard that, Father Murphy had a heart attack.
When the industrialist had a heart attack from pushing his industrial empire it was easy to show him his greed and selfishness. When the priest had a heart attack from pushing the Kingdom of God it was impossible to show him that this was greed and selfishness in another, more respectable disguise. Is it God's Kingdom you are pushing or yourself? The Kingdom needs no pushing. Your anxiety betrays you, does it not?
So they sought the services of the local pastor, who assured them he would find a way. "Tell me, Tom," said Father Murphy, "if God, in his mercy, were to send you a billion dollars, what would you do with it?"
"I'd give half of it to you for the Church, Father."
When he heard that, Father Murphy had a heart attack.
When the industrialist had a heart attack from pushing his industrial empire it was easy to show him his greed and selfishness. When the priest had a heart attack from pushing the Kingdom of God it was impossible to show him that this was greed and selfishness in another, more respectable disguise. Is it God's Kingdom you are pushing or yourself? The Kingdom needs no pushing. Your anxiety betrays you, does it not?
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