A wealthy farmer once took two Christians to the top of his house, and showed them farm after farm, stretching far away, on the right hand and on the left. He told them that all that land belonged to him.
Then he took them to another place and showed them great herds of cattle, horses, and sheep, saying as he did so:
“These are all mine, too. I came out here a poor boy and have earned all this property myself.”
One of the Christians pointed up to heaven and said:
“And how much treasure have you laid up yonder?”
After a pause, he said, as he heaved a sigh, “I’m afraid I haven’t anything there.”
“And isn’t it a great mistake that a man of your ability and judgment should spend all your days in laying up so much treasure on earth, and not laying up any in heaven?” said the other Christian. The farmer answered solemnly:
“It does look foolish, doesn’t it?”
Not very long after this the farmer died. He left all his property for others to use, and no doubt lost his soul through greed of wealth.