. If this is happiness, then give
me misery. By Thomas Sherman. There was
a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived
in luxury every day. Luke 16, 19. How apt are many at the sight
of a rich worldling to envy him for what he has, but for my part
I rather pity him for what he lacks. He has a talent, but it
lacks improvement. He has a lamp, but it lacks oil. He has a soul, but it lacks grace. He has the creature, but he lacks
the Creator. He has a mansion, but he lacks
heaven. In his life he floats upon a
torrent of vanity, which rolls along into an ocean of vexation. And after death it will be said
of him, Take this unprofitable servant, bind him hand and foot,
and cast him into outer darkness. Consign his soul to the eternal
lake of fire and brimstone. where now is the object of your
envy. It is not his gold that can then
rescue him, nor his mansion that can then satisfy him, nor his
friends that can then comfort him. Therefore, if he is worth
the envying, then who can be worth the pitying? If this is
happiness, then give me misery. Lord, rather make me poor with
a holy heart than rich with an evil heart of unbelief. have
pity on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger
in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this
fire." Luke 16, 24. Then they will go away to eternal
punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. Matthew 25,
46.