The Perfect Storm

Read-Ecclesiastes 2:17-23, Matt 6:19-21

Reflect-The Perfect Storm is when a rare combination of events aggravates a situation drastically.

I'd never lost in the game Monopoly.  To win, you buy properties, place homes on them, and ultimately place expensive hotels on them.  Essentially, you make more than your peers, while picking up as many properties as you can.  In real life, I tried to follow that model.  Paid off house; not enough. 40 apartment rentals; not enough. A bunch of Victorian homes; nope, not enough. Hotel investor; now I'm set. But wait, there's more...The economic events of 2008 wiped it clean, a vapor, dust in the wind...hebel!

Hebel: Emptiness, futility. a vapor that vanishes quickly and leaves nothing behind. The economic perfect storm of 2008 could have been avoided if I hadn't been so success driven. It is is something I never should have had to put my family through, it caused immense stress and we nearly didn't make it through the storm.  Matthew 6:19-21 talks about what can happen when all your time, effort and money gets invested in the here and now, rather than seeking and trusting God first in all things.

Having to start over a few years ago gave me a new perspective; a paradigm shift from making money, to making a difference. 

 

React-Gut check.  Are you all about the money, the cars, the homes, the college your kids are going to go? Maybe it's time to audit where you spend your pursuits of time, effort, and money?