LESSONS of FAITH - 1

     It  �was �in the bag. �He was clutching it like it �was �the  
last �thing he owned. �And it was. �The attendants had to pry �it 
from �his �hands. �When  they opened it, �they �found �over �3000 
dollars, ��mostly small bills. �By some standards, �he  might �be 
considered rich, but you see, he wasn't. He was poor,  �wandering 
the �streets, �sleeping in alleys and doorways, �begging for food 
and �money. ��He �had found a good area where �the  �people �were 
generous. �He asked and they gave. Yet, when they found him, dead 
from �the �cold and lack of good food, �his clothes were old �and 
dirty, �and his pockets were empty. �All he had was that bag �and 
3000 dollars. What happened? 

     What �happened is that he failed to follow one  of the �most 
important �teachings in the Bible. �God's principle of Use. �This 
same �principle is rarely applied in many of our own lives, ��and 
yet it is easily recognized as "missing" �in others. The man with 
the bag failed to apply the principle. �He was keeping all he had 
hid in a paper bag. He was saving for a rainy day. He was so busy 
saving �for an unsure future, �he failed to see the storm �around 
him, ��and he ended up dead on the sidewalk, �clutching his �only 
belonging.  It was in the bag.  

     That which he cared so much about is now useless to him. �He 
didn't use what he had. �He kept it hid in a bag, while he wasted 
away. He didn't spend a cent for food, clothing, or anything. �He 
kept saving, saving, saving! Now it's too late. He didn't use it.  
It was in the bag. 

     Are �you holding on to all you have? �Are you afraid to �use 
it? Are you saving for a rainy day?  Don't! Don't die holding the 
bag! ��God wants you to use your talents and your resources. ��He 
gave �them �to you, �not so you can hide them in a bag, ��but �to 
display �to �all �for His Glory! �Jesus, �in the parable �of �The 
Talents, ��was pleased at the servants that used what �they �were 
given �and �angry at the servant that buried his portion �in �the 
ground. �(See Matt. �25:14) �Jesus even instructs us not to �save 
treasures �on �earth where moth and dust �corrupt, ��and �thieves 
steal, �but to save treasures in heaven, �for where our treasures 
are, our heart will be also. (Matt. 6:19) 

     Please, take it out of the bag!

                                          LRH 10/10/85