Psalms 49:15-20

Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased.

Empty-handed we depart

I remember an Eastern legend which I have always thought furnished a remarkable commentary on these words of the psalmist. Alexander the Great, we are told, being upon his death-bed, commanded that when he was carried forth to his grave his hands should not be wrapped, as was usual, in the cerecloth, but should be left outside, so that all might see them, and might see that they were empty; that he, the possessor while he lived of two worlds--of the East and the West,--and of the treasures of both, yet now, when he was dead, could retain no smallest portion of these treasures. (Archbishop Trench.)

A sand sorrow

A story is told of a child crying by the seashore, and when mamma asked nurse the reason, her reply was, “Please, ma’am, it’s because he can’t bring home the holes he has made in the sand.”

“How many weep because they cannot take
To their last home the many holes they make.”

The deepest mines of wealth will have to be left behind. Wells of earthly joy cannot be taken with us. Hast thou buried thy talent? Thou wilt have to leave it.

Psalms 50:1