This is a simple story of collectors and activists, artists and disciples. Anyone can collect information, facts, ideas or many different objects of value. However, a person who takes all or a part of any collection and uses and converts it into something of greater value is to be admired. Such is the case with Christianity as a philosophy and the straightway and path of life and living. Here follows the Kreisler violinist story.
Kreisler Violinist Extraordinaire and the Our Daily Bread Story of February 4, 1994
Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962), the world-famous violinist, earned a fortune with his concerts and compositions, but he generously gave most of it away. So, when he discovered an exquisite violin on one of his trips, he wasn't able to buy it. Later, having raised enough money to meet the asking price, he returned to the seller, hoping to purchase the beautiful instrument. But to his great dismay it had been sold to a collector. Kreisler made his way to the new owner's home and offered to buy the violin. The collector said it had become his prized possession and he would not sell it. Keenly disappointed, Kreisler was about to leave when he had an idea. "Could I play the instrument once more before it is consigned to silence?" he asked. Permission was granted, and the great virtuoso filled the room with such heart-moving music that the collector's emotions were deeply stirred. "I have no right to keep that to myself," he exclaimed. "It's yours, Mr. Kreisler. Take it into the world, and let people hear it." (Our Daily Bread February 4, 1994)
Kreisler Violin Story Carries Christians and Others Beyond This Simple, Well-Told Tale
If you think about this apparently true story you will begin to ask yourself some basic questions.
Why am I collecting whatever I am collecting?How much do I really have and how much more do I really need?Am I collecting that which I dont use or never intend to use?Will some of this stuff ever get used?Who other than me is interested in this collection?Is this collection worth anything?Can I sell this collection and receive value for it?Why should I stop collecting?When should I stop collecting?Estate Sales, Some Simple Thoughts about People and Things
Recently, I entered house that was in an estate sale. It was a wonderful and very nice house with the finest of good things books, clothing, pictures, artwork, cookware, crystal, silverware, jewelry, nice furniture, Christmas decorations and hobby items. It was all being labeled and readied for sale. Soon this wonderful personal collection would be gone, dissembled and make its way into the hands of hundreds of others and be carried out of that domicile and into the collections or personal belongings of those others who came, saw and purchased. Then, years later, those purchasingestates and parts of estateswould themselves possibly become "estate sales". In a sense, there is "nothing new under the sun"(Ecclesiastes1:9) and"there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
The Rich Young Man and Jesus, Matthew 19: 16-21
And this brings us to the main point of all this, just in case you were wondering. The story picks up in Matthew 19: 16-21, Now a man up to Jesus and asked, Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life? And Jesus told the man to obey the commandments and the man responded, which ones? Jesus responded and identified simply 6 specific ones and the man replied, All these I have kept, the young man said, What do I still lack? Jesus answered, If you want to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. When the young man https://www.realestatebook.com/ heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Yes, that simple series of questions was followed by simple direct answers. And the rich, young man, after receiving his answers, could not carry his questions or actions of discipleship any further, so he turned and walked away. The answer had been given and received. The cost of that eternal life and that Jesus discipleship was too much for him and what he had collected and accumulated.
You see, I believe and in many ways know, we are all collectors of one sort or another. We collect many things and when we are asked to part with or even share that collection, well, we simply and often have difficulty great difficulty and burden. In the case of the rich man there was much to sacrifice and that sacrifice and that giving up something of value that you own is always difficult very difficult indeed.
Christian discipleship, outreach and fellowship certainly is giving ones love, peace, care and attention to things that matter and this giving isnot for ones own personal benefit, but for the benefit of others and God. These Christian activities spring from agape and philia love values and relationships which require discipline, attention, and driven by fortitude.
Deep within each of us there is the ability to make big differences in the lives of others. That is what Jesus was all about in His ministry teaching, loving and providing. He shared the best of what he knew and his love with others. What is particularly good about this giving and our relationship is that what we have received from God makes it possible for us to freely give. And another part of this giving story is that it is not just a collection of facts, history, people or persons, instead it is a gift of love-giving that never seems to run out. These gifts of love, peace, faith and hope are replenished to overflowing time and time again within us and within others. Such is the goodness, abundance and depth of the God who we serve.
May you find treasures that you can share and collections that may be given away for the benefit of others. It is always that simple and that complicated when it comes down to the basics of what we do, how we do it and when we do it. We do what we can, when and where we can and we give from our abundance to others who are in need. Christianity is not about collecting ideas and philosophies it is quite simply about using our love and the gifts and things that God has provided for the benefit of all who would receive them.And along the many paths and bywaysthatChristians travel, itis also involves the personalsharing oftheGood News (the Gospel) of this New Testament for allpeople whose souls and hearts are starvingand seekingtrue spiritual food. Kingdom living is here and now and it continues on and on and on.
Sources
Holy Bible, New International Version, 1984. Zondervan Bible Publishers, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Kreisler Violinist Extraordinaire and the Our Daily Bread Story of February 4, 1994
Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962), the world-famous violinist, earned a fortune with his concerts and compositions, but he generously gave most of it away. So, when he discovered an exquisite violin on one of his trips, he wasn't able to buy it. Later, having raised enough money to meet the asking price, he returned to the seller, hoping to purchase the beautiful instrument. But to his great dismay it had been sold to a collector. Kreisler made his way to the new owner's home and offered to buy the violin. The collector said it had become his prized possession and he would not sell it. Keenly disappointed, Kreisler was about to leave when he had an idea. "Could I play the instrument once more before it is consigned to silence?" he asked. Permission was granted, and the great virtuoso filled the room with such heart-moving music that the collector's emotions were deeply stirred. "I have no right to keep that to myself," he exclaimed. "It's yours, Mr. Kreisler. Take it into the world, and let people hear it." (Our Daily Bread February 4, 1994)
Kreisler Violin Story Carries Christians and Others Beyond This Simple, Well-Told Tale
If you think about this apparently true story you will begin to ask yourself some basic questions.
Why am I collecting whatever I am collecting?How much do I really have and how much more do I really need?Am I collecting that which I dont use or never intend to use?Will some of this stuff ever get used?Who other than me is interested in this collection?Is this collection worth anything?Can I sell this collection and receive value for it?Why should I stop collecting?When should I stop collecting?Estate Sales, Some Simple Thoughts about People and Things
Recently, I entered house that was in an estate sale. It was a wonderful and very nice house with the finest of good things books, clothing, pictures, artwork, cookware, crystal, silverware, jewelry, nice furniture, Christmas decorations and hobby items. It was all being labeled and readied for sale. Soon this wonderful personal collection would be gone, dissembled and make its way into the hands of hundreds of others and be carried out of that domicile and into the collections or personal belongings of those others who came, saw and purchased. Then, years later, those purchasingestates and parts of estateswould themselves possibly become "estate sales". In a sense, there is "nothing new under the sun"(Ecclesiastes1:9) and"there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
The Rich Young Man and Jesus, Matthew 19: 16-21
And this brings us to the main point of all this, just in case you were wondering. The story picks up in Matthew 19: 16-21, Now a man up to Jesus and asked, Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life? And Jesus told the man to obey the commandments and the man responded, which ones? Jesus responded and identified simply 6 specific ones and the man replied, All these I have kept, the young man said, What do I still lack? Jesus answered, If you want to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. When the young man https://www.realestatebook.com/ heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Yes, that simple series of questions was followed by simple direct answers. And the rich, young man, after receiving his answers, could not carry his questions or actions of discipleship any further, so he turned and walked away. The answer had been given and received. The cost of that eternal life and that Jesus discipleship was too much for him and what he had collected and accumulated.
You see, I believe and in many ways know, we are all collectors of one sort or another. We collect many things and when we are asked to part with or even share that collection, well, we simply and often have difficulty great difficulty and burden. In the case of the rich man there was much to sacrifice and that sacrifice and that giving up something of value that you own is always difficult very difficult indeed.
Christian discipleship, outreach and fellowship certainly is giving ones love, peace, care and attention to things that matter and this giving isnot for ones own personal benefit, but for the benefit of others and God. These Christian activities spring from agape and philia love values and relationships which require discipline, attention, and driven by fortitude.
Deep within each of us there is the ability to make big differences in the lives of others. That is what Jesus was all about in His ministry teaching, loving and providing. He shared the best of what he knew and his love with others. What is particularly good about this giving and our relationship is that what we have received from God makes it possible for us to freely give. And another part of this giving story is that it is not just a collection of facts, history, people or persons, instead it is a gift of love-giving that never seems to run out. These gifts of love, peace, faith and hope are replenished to overflowing time and time again within us and within others. Such is the goodness, abundance and depth of the God who we serve.
May you find treasures that you can share and collections that may be given away for the benefit of others. It is always that simple and that complicated when it comes down to the basics of what we do, how we do it and when we do it. We do what we can, when and where we can and we give from our abundance to others who are in need. Christianity is not about collecting ideas and philosophies it is quite simply about using our love and the gifts and things that God has provided for the benefit of all who would receive them.And along the many paths and bywaysthatChristians travel, itis also involves the personalsharing oftheGood News (the Gospel) of this New Testament for allpeople whose souls and hearts are starvingand seekingtrue spiritual food. Kingdom living is here and now and it continues on and on and on.
Sources
Holy Bible, New International Version, 1984. Zondervan Bible Publishers, Grand Rapids, Michigan