Leo Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy was born in 1828 in central Russia to parents of Russian nobility. Both of his parents died when he was young, and he was raised by his aunt. He attended Kazan University in 1844, and his teachers said he was mostly unable and unwilling to learn. Despite his heritage and affluence, he led a life of pleasure seeking (wine, women, and cards), until a deeply religious experience in his mid-life years. He discovered the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) that radically affected him.
He started to try and live up to Jesus’ message of love, forgiveness, and simple living. He gave away most of his inheritance, started a lot of charities, and preached the gospel of Jesus to any who would listen. He also wrote broadly about Russian life, and his more famous novel is entitled, War and Peace.
He also wrote a lot about applying Jesus’ teachings to everyday life. One such work was called, How Much Land Does A Man Need? The story describes a peasant named Pahom, who dreamed of owning his own property. He declared that if he owned property, he would not fear the devil. The devil overheard the boast and made it possible for Pahom to gain more land. Yet despite the acquisition of more property, Pahom was never satisfied with what he had. One day a local town leader in central Russia said that if Pahom started off walking in the morning, he could have all the land he could cover by sundown.
Pahom started off at dawn, motivated by sheer greed, and attempted to walk off the largest possible circle of land as he could. He covered a large circle of territory and made it back to the starting point as the sun went down. As he crossed the line, he collapsed and died. Tolstoy concluded the narrative with the words, “Six feet from his head to his toes was all the land he really needed.”
Our culture declares the viewpoint that “He or she who has the most toys wins.” Commercials are designed to imply we are desperately missing what their product has to offer. Scripture indicates that if we are consumed (i.e., obsessed) with acquiring anything – popularity, possessions, power, prestige – we are choosing to step into the devil’s trap. Satan will use greed to cripple, and ultimately destroy us. Walk wisely. Jesus says it is better to give, not get. Read Matthew 5:3-10.
I have officiated at funerals and have yet to see a funeral hearse pulling a UHaul of a person’s possession, because you cannot take your stuff with you when you die. Life is short. Why waste it on mere material pursuits. Jesus asked, “What would it profit a person to gain the whole world, but forfeit their soul?” Imagine your funeral and what people would say about you as they thought about your life and contribution. Based on what you hope people would say, start living that way now. Make your life count for eternity by living for things that really count.
Love is a verb,
Mike
