A wealthy man and his son
loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection,
from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great
works of art. When the Vietnam‐ conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was
very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father
was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.
About a month later, just
before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door
with a large package in his hands. He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am
the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day and
he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died
instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art. The young man held
out this package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I
think your son would have wanted you to have this.' The father opened the
package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in
awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the
painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with
tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. 'Oh, no
sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'
The father hung the portrait
over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the
portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had
collected. The man died a few months later.
There was to be a great
auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing
the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their
collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded
his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will
bid for this picture?' There was silence . . Then a voice in the back of the
room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.' But the
auctioneer persisted. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the
bidding? $100?, $200? Another voice angrily shouted, 'We didn't come to see
this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts. Get on with the
Real bids!' But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take
the son?' Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the
longtime gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the painting.'
Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. 'We have $10, who will bid $20?'
'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.' The crowd was becoming
annoyed. They didn't want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy
investments for their collections. The auctioneer pounded the gavel. 'Going
once, twice, SOLD for $10!' A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's
get on with the collection!' The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry,
the auction is over.' 'What about the paintings?' 'I am sorry. When I was
called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will.
I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting
of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the
entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets
everything!'
Many are looking for, striving for, wanting to acquire the
treasures of heaven: knowledge, wisdom, prophecies, charity, even the gifts or
the fruits of the spirit. Yet, the Father's message today is: 'The Son, the
living Son, who'll receive the Son?' Because, you see, whoever receives the Son
inherits everything!
