BILLIONAIRE
FALLS
THROUGH ROOF!
 Several weeks ago I read the story of
a high school dropout who became one of the wealthiest men
in the United States. With
a net worth of $3,500,000,000
(3.5 billion), Ken Hendricks, age 66, was a leader in the
roofing industry. Hendricks’ company,
ABD Supply Company, based in Beloit, Wisconsin, celebrated
its twenty-fifth anniversary last year. The account stated that this rich man fell through his garage
roof—and died.
This reported
event reminded me again of the unpredictable nature of
our earthly life. Solomon
stated, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not
know what a day may bring forth” (Prov. 27:1). James
tells us the same: “You do not know what your life will
be like tomorrow” (James 4:14). Today
we can walk; tomorrow we may be incapacitated. Today
we may live in a house; tomorrow the house may be burned
to the ground. Today
we may have a relationship with a father or mother; tomorrow
one of them may be dead.
I am reminded
of this in my own life. Not
long ago, I was employed, after a long tenure at my workplace. Unexpectedly,
I received notice that I would need to begin working on
Sunday, the Lord’s day. After
a one and a half hour discussion with the supervisor/president,
in which I explained that I would need to have this day
free, I was without employment. I
walked into his office as a man with a job; I left without
work and became a job seeker. A day may change our circumstances in many different ways.
In the
story that began our remarks above, Mr. Hendricks must
have begun the day with expectations that he would complete
the day. He
must have climbed to the rooftop with the plans that he
would descend from the roof. But
that day was his last. Regardless
of his position, regardless of his bank accounts, regardless
of his authority, regardless of his many associates, Ken
Hendricks died.
I
know nothing about this man’s spiritual condition, although
Jesus did plainly say, “How hard it will be for those who
are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:23). If
this man was like most rich men, God’s words to the wealthy
man in Christ’s parable might well have been said to him: “You
fool! This
very night your soul is required of you; and now who will
own what you have prepared?” (Luke 12:20). Christ
then stated, “So is the man who stores up treasure for
himself, and is not rich toward God” (v. 21). What
Mr. Hendricks’s personal state was, I don’t know. But
if it was like most people—especially most wealthy people—he
may have piled up treasure on earth while he had no heavenly
treasure. Only
when one who is “rich in this present world” freely gives
to others for the glory of God, will he have “the treasure
of a good foundation for the future” (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
Let us
prepare now for our future. We
may not have warning of our end. We
may be involved in a head-on crash, we may suffer a heart
attack or stroke, we may be involved in a drive-by shooting,
or we may fall through the roof! Let
us prepare now to meet the Lord!
Richard
Hollerman
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