The Rich Man And His Castle 

   There once was a rich man who was a very wealthy man indeed. He was born into a rich inheritance, a family of aristocrats. He grew up thinking that all was given and that nothing was to be worked for in life but handed to him on a silver platter. His parents were investor's in estates and this man inherited a lovely castle that was his to call his own when he became of age. He became accustomed to his lifestyle of riches never once giving a thought of thankfulness to the Lord for what he was given. So he lived a life of frivolity and no cares, including a very hardened heart where he let no one come between him and his money or what he possessed. One day this poor man came into his presence on the street and he looked at this man with love and compassion and he asked the man which he obviously observed as well taken care of in life, and asked him for money so that he could obtain a good meal, as it had been days since he'd eaten anything. The rich man scowled at him and only looked at him with disdain and said why should I help you, with this reply the poor man once again looked deep into this rich man's eyes and full of pain and sorrow, but showing love, he said nothing, and walked away. The rich man smirked and he too walked away and mumbled to himself the nerve of that man asking me for my money!  Years passed by quickly and the rich man now  having grown without family was very ill and dying. He thought what do I do I have no one to leave my inheritance to no one! all of my family has passed on and I never had any wife nor children to whom shall I leave these riches to?  One day his door bell rang and standing at the great massive door was this poor man that had crossed his path many years ago. Hello you probably won't remember me, but years ago I met you on the street and I asked you for help do you remember? The old man searched his thoughts and finally he said oh yes you asked me for my money what are you doing here now? I am old and sick and dying why are you here? The poor man looked at this rich man and said I have a message for you. The rich man said what could that possibly be?  With love in the poor man's eyes he thought for a moment and he said many years back when I met you on the street I was thinking this man is very wealthy surely he will help me so I can get a meal, which I hadn't had in days, and then the cold words from your heart said, Why should I help you?  I asked the Lord that day to bless you because you were far more in need of help than I was. With these words the rich man could only once again look at the poor man with disgust... and why would you ask the Lord to bless me, I had everything and you had nothing! The words with tears rolling down his cheeks, you had everything, what you say is very true, but you lacked one thing and that was love and the Lord.  The rich man heard these words and with that he started to weep bitterly and the poor man reached out his hand and said my friend, would you like to know this Jesus? Would you like peace in your heart this day? The rich man looked up through his tears and said yes...yes I would. Then the poor man said would you pray with me now and ask the Lord to take hold of your life, and ask Him to forgive you of your sins, that He will come to live in your heart, that you recognize that you are a sinner lost and dying without Him and you realize that He died for your sins? This rich man and poor man knelt down on their knees together right where they stood and the rich man was no longer hardened by sin, no longer bound up in the chains of his wealth, but free. Salvation came to this man's home that day and he hugged the poor man and said I'm so sorry for the way I treated you, I never had family, but today I give you my inheritance, welcome home my son.  Lisa Beth Jenkins c.2007 All Rights Reserved