This story blows my mind. Back in 1986 Karl Rabeder starts a furniture business. He works hard, things go well, and 24 years later he finds himself worth between 4.6 and 7 million dollars, depending on who’s telling the story. Recently he’s on his way home from a Hawaiian vacation, a great truth clunks him right on the noggin — he’s “dying from consumerism.” tonic.com So he decides to give it all away. He’s selling his cars, his plane, his luxury alpine villa. It’s all going to orphanages and the poor in South America. When it’s over he’ll be living on approximately $1,250 per month.
George Pitcher in his article at Telegraph.co.uk commends Rabeder for giving to the poor. And later in his article makes a great point when he writes,
The rich young man of the gospel was told to give his money to the poor and to follow Christ. So getting rid of the money is only half the job. (Matthew 19)
Your Life:
Jesus said
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Mark 9:44-48
Think about this! We are talking about eternity here — that’s a long time. If anything gets in the way of your relationship with Christ, give it up. Your hand — if you’re doing things that separate you from God; your foot — if you’re going places that separate you from God; your eye if you’re looking upon things that separate you from God.
Or your money.
Karl Rabeder gave it all to the poor. You and I should too if our money is a detriment to our relationship with Jesus. Do the whole job — follow Him.
dobry den pane karl rabeder, cetl sem vase clanky , a ze rozdave´te chudym a ti co to potrebuji , tak bys tem mohl udelat dobry skutek sme peticlena rodina a potrebovali bychom pomoct financne sme z ceske republiky , tak jestli vas tenhle inzerat zaujal tak nam pomozte financne muj meil je telefungent@seznam.cz , a pokud bys te nam chtel pomoci tak nam muzete pomoct na ucet 2100147025/2010 , nezlobte se ze to tak pisu ale mame fakt financni problemi doufam ze me chapete , preji vam pekny den a budu se tesit na odpoved pozdravem milan
I just would love to give this man a letter of congratulations! It is hard climbing up to the top and fall down, realizing that you have consumed yourself in the world, of the world. That you can still enjoy the riches of this earth without consuming so much of it and lose yourself in the process.
I have always struggled to make ends meet. I don’t have much, but I have the necessities in live. I have to say, I am happy with the simple life. It is nice to see a rich person that realizes this.
Mr. Rebeder, you are a wonderful human being to donate your riches to the people of Haiti. You truly have a good heart.