KNOW YOUR ASSETS

In the 60’s John MacCormack worked as a police officer in Harlem. After finding himself alone one day facing four armed robbers, he decided to find a new career. John made the decision to sell Christmas trees. His first year he made $6000, all of which he invested in the stock market to make an additional $100,000. He was then hired by a prestigious brokerage firm and quickly became a millionaire.

            John then quit his job and went on a wild spending spree, taking limousines everywhere he went and funding expensive parties. Before long his money was spent, his fiancé left him and he decided to commit suicide. While sitting on the beach contemplating the best way to end his life, an older gentleman name Abe approached him and said, “Your ship isn’t coming in, you must go get it.” Surprised by the stranger’s abruptness, John told him his story of losing everything in a matter of months.

            Unimpressed, Abe asked him if he could speak English. John assured him that he could. Next Abe asked him if he could mentally make change out of a twenty dollar bill. Once again John answered in the affirmative. Finally Abe asked him if he had any friends, to which John answered yes.

            Abe then said to him, “Son, do you have any idea how many people came to this country with no money, who couldn’t speak English, and didn’t know anyone, yet fulfilled their dreams? You are already way ahead of most people.” Then Abe shared words that forever changed MacCormack’s life: “Any man who knows more about his liabilities than his assets is in big trouble.” That single sentence was enough to move John to reassess his life and his values, and put him back on track to become a successful business man once again. More importantly it showed him how much he truly possessed in things that matter the most.

            As we are about to enter into the holiday season many items in the news focus on telling people what they lack, yet true fulfillment comes when we see what we truly possess, stuff not associated with stock markets and material things. Andy Rooney once said, “One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas Day. Don’t clean it up too quickly.”

            So may we see the true assets we have, memories and love that never fade away or grow old with use. And above all else may we embrace the greatest gift and immeasurable asset we possess, the promise that “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:17).

Tobin Crenshaw

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