MONEY, DECEITFULNESS

One day a certain old, rich man of a miserable disposition visited a rabbi, who took the rich man by the hand and led him to a window. “Look out there,” he said. The rich man looked into the street, “What do you see?” asked the rabbi.

“I see men, women, and children,” answered the rich man.

Again the rabbi took him by the hand and this time led him to a mirror. “Now what do you see?”

“Now I see myself,” the rich man replied.

Then the rabbi said, “Behold, in the window there is glass, and in the mirror there is glass. But the glass of the mirror is covered with a little silver, and no sooner is the silver added than you cease to see others, but you see only yourself.”903

A businessman had an angel come to visit him who promised to grant him one request. The man requested a copy of the stock-market quotes for one year in the future. As he was studying the future prices on the American and New York stock exchanges, he boasted of his plans and the increased riches that would be his as a result of this “insider” look into the future.

He then glanced across the newspaper page, only to see his own picture in the obituary column. Obviously, in the light of his certain death, money was no longer important.904

Money will buy:

A bed, but not sleep.

Books, but not brains.

Food, but not appetite.

A house, but not a home.

Medicine, but not health.

Amusement, but not happiness.

Finery, but not beauty.

A crucifix, but not a Savior.905

In the June 14, 1968, issue of Life magazine appeared a picture of young David Kennedy sitting outside the White House. The picture had been taken several years before by his Aunt Jacqueline and was inscribed by his Uncle John with the words: “A future president inspects his property—John Kennedy.”

Though he had name, status, wealth, and all that money could buy, in 1984 David Kennedy was found dead by his own hand at age twenty-eight. Money can buy the things of this world but cannot satisfy man’s inner longing for peace.906

“I sit in my house in Buffalo and sometimes I get so lonely it’s unbelievable. Life has been so good to me. I’ve got a great wife, good kids, money, my own health—and I’m lonely and bored.… I often wondered why so many rich people commit suicide. Money sure isn’t a cure-all!” (O. J. Simpson, People Magazine, 1978).907