Hidden Wealth

The first time I met him I almost burst into laughter. It was 2005 and my new boss, Charles, was sitting at his desk, decked out in a forest green leisure suit and a gold necklace with an eagle the size of a quarter clutching a diamond, dangling on the end of the chain. He had snowy white hair, a thick white mustache, and a grin that seemed to communicate he was up to no good.

I walked into the office to introduce myself and let him know his first customer was waiting when I noticed a large, muted-green and yellow colored booger on his lapel. I made a motion like a baseball coach dusting off their shoulders during a game and said “Charles, um, I’m sorry but do this once.” He crinkled his eyebrows and with the flick of his wrist sent the booger flying through the air. That was the beginning of a sweet relationship.

Charles soon became one of my favorite bosses. Sure he didn’t give me a lunch break, (or really any break for that matter), required his employees to make homemade carbon copy receipts for customers, and had the least ergonomic setup for an office known to mankind, but the longer I was employed there the more I loved it.

The office was beat up and run down. The carpet hadn’t been replaced since Reagan was in office.  Every wall needed a fresh coat of paint, and the front steps had a hole through them that we advised our patrons, who all belonged to the AARP, to simply “step around.”

As I began to meet the customers throughout tax season, it became apparent that they all loved Charles. Some maybe even a bit too much. One day I watched as Charles escorted a lady, with bright red hair and a matching silk scarf, to the front of the office when she turned around and flirtatiously thanked the old man. She smiled widely and batted her eyes hoping for who knows what. I remember thinking, “Are you serious lady? This guy is older than the hills!” After spending a few minutes in a state of disgust, I began to realize what was truly going on.

Any customer who had been around for more than a few years found out that Charles was sitting on a gold mine. This bachelor in his mid 70’s had more wealth than you would ever guess could come from a man still sporting a leisure suit. I slowly found out through his stories that he owned property in five states, simply to hunt on. Each time he would run errands he backed his truck out of the garage, with a new truck yet to be driven just sitting there. For our small company party (only three others worked there) he decided to give us a tour of his massive new log home, still under construction, in the country. I’d never seen anything like it.

Charles’ customers didn’t trust him for style or decorating tips, but they trusted him with their money because they knew what he possessed. He had great wealth that wasn’t flaunted or advertised, but was apparent after spending time with the man. The more time a person spent in his presence, the more one would realize the depths of his riches.

This man was not, to my knowledge, a believer, but taught me a great lesson. Jesus Christ was a man who, from all appearances, was less than a king. He was born in humble circumstances and grew up relatively unknown. As his ministry grew, he didn’t stand, preaching to hundreds of thousands at sold out conferences. He didn’t advertise His wealth. He let his friends and those who wanted to be around him come and discover his hidden riches.

As I have grown in my relationship with Jesus Christ I have begun to discover his wealth. He is rich in love…rich in mercy…rich in grace…rich in joy…rich in peace…rich in goodness…rich in forgiveness.  And that is just the beginning.

The depth of the spiritual wealth of the man Jesus is more than we could ever imagine. My challenge to you today is to spend time with Jesus. Ask him to reveal himself to you in a new and fresh way and show you the riches of His Kingdom.

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints and his incomparably great power for us who believe…”

Ephesians 1: 17-19a