A well-known farmer who had held the record as a raiser of prize flocks of lambs and sheep for half a century, was visited one day by a deputation of farmers. They desired to learn, if possible, the secret of his success in gaining so many honors and prizes at the local fairs for his much admired flocks and herds.
The farmer, who was naturally proud of his reputation and the coveted honors awarded him for his fine flocks of sheep and lambs browsing on the fields by the riverside, took his visitors around to view them. One of the company remarked that he "surely ought to be a happy and a satisfied man, having had such great success as he had enjoyed for almost fifty years, as a farmer and a flock-raiser in that beautiful place."
To these remarks the farmer's answer greatly astonished his visitors. They had formed the opinion that wealth and popularity are the chief sources of happiness and satisfaction to those who obtain them; but hear him speak: "My friends," said the farmer, as he looked with pride on his fine flock grazing by the river side, "you are mistaken if you reckon that success, as most people count it, brings true happiness and contentment with it. I can assure you that I have known neither the one nor the other throughout my long life as a successful farmer here. I have had more anxiety and care in my life for the past thirty years of it, than I had when I was a poor man on a small farm, working hard and living frugally. Then I had a wife and a large family to provide for and bring up; but my soul was at peace with God, and my life was lived in the daily enjoyment of His 'great salvation.' Heb. 2:33How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3).
"As a young man I had come to know the Lord Jesus through the gospel preaching of an evangelist. I knew real happiness then, and amid my hard-working years, I had the conscious presence of God with me. His service was my joy by day; and His 'perfect peace' (Isa. 26:33Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isaiah 26:3)) the solace and enjoyment of my nights throughout the twelve years in which I possessed them in my soul. But when 'success' flowed in upon me, and I became engrossed in the things of the world, I had no time for God. My mind became obsessed with gaining the things of this present world. My life was centered in my flocks, and the reputation I was making for myself as a successful farmer. As my heart became more occupied with my farm, I became less careful to please God and to live as a Christian should. By and by I lost assurance of my personal salvation, and this was the greatest of all losses to me. I would give all I now possess, to have the 'joy of God's salvation' (Psalm 51:1212Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. (Psalm 51:12)) restored to my soul, as I knew it when a young man. But the world and its wealth and successes have crept in and robbed me of my best treasure which money cannot buy. I know that I must soon leave all that I have lived for in my later years, all that men of the world call my successful years, but which I now reckon to have been my years of deepest loss. These successful years have lost to me the peace of God in my soul, and the sunshine of His smile on my path."
The old farmer heaved a deep sigh as he ended his story. Wiping a tear from his cheek, he said slowly and sadly: "You younger men who have your lives yet to live, take warning from me. Do not allow the love of this world to rob you of the peace of God in your lives, or the quest for this world's wealth or its honors to shut out God and eternity from your view, as I have done. I can never get back the years I have spent selfishly neglecting my Savior, and in forgetfulness of God and His Word. I am leaving all I have gained. It will benefit no one. I see too late my folly, but would spend my last strength to warn others who may yet escape the path I have followed. I now see it to have been all wrong, alike for time and eternity."
He died, leaving a large fortune and the reputation of being a successful farmer; but he passed into the world beyond accounting the years of such attainments as dead leaves. He had missed "the one thing worth living for—Christ, and the joy of God's salvation in his soul."
Let the reader beware lest the love of the world and its approval cheat him in the same way. There are numberless such cases, even among those who, at one time, bade fair to become faithful followers of Christ, but were sidetracked by the affairs of this life. The love of this world and its successes lured them on to their eternal loss.
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever." 1 John 2:15-1715Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:15‑17).