Christopher Foster had it all. He was a self-made millionaire and a devoted family man. He had done so well for himself, building a life of material success from scratch: his luxury house with its outbuildings and CCTV cameras; his luxury cars; all the animals from the ducks to the guinea pig to the four adored dogs and three horses.And of course his attractive wife Jillian and his 15 year-old daughter Kirstie. This was his life, his triumph and his identity.
Then one night, he set his house on fire and burnt his happy family.
On August 26, after coming back from a cherry barbeque with family friends, he took his shotgun and shot the horses, shot the dogs, shot his wife in the head and finally shot his daughter. He then barricaded himself inside his grand house and set on fire everything he owned. What a tragic end for a happy family.
Reports said that he had trouble in his business and was in debts. The creditors were about to arrive, his successful life he made for himself was built on the sands. He faced ruin, exposure and humiliation.
The trouble with Christopher Foster was that he thought that life was based on his success in gaining material wealth. He dare not face the humiliation that was about to come. He did not dare to let people know that his successful business was coming to ruins.
I cannot help but to pity this man and his wife and daughter. His daughter was just 15 year-old and there is surely a good future waiting for her. She was killed by her own father whom she placed her trust in to take care of her. His wife certainly did not expect this coming; the man whom she married and gave her life to finally took her life and destroyed it. How sad can it be? Christopher could have start from scratch again and build his life once more but instead chose to end it and give up.
Proverbs 18:11
The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it an unscalable wall.
For Christopher, it may be because of his fear of losing his wealth that drove him to such madness. For the rich and those who do not know God, they think that their wealth is everything and when all is gone, there is no use to live anymore. For them, wealth is their fortified city and they feel safe. However for the man of God, they find their security not in wealth but in God. Take but a glance at riches and it is gone. God, on the other hand, will always be there.
1 Timothy 6:17
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
People are getting the message that wealth is everything and everything is wealth. They live to gain wealth. They would do anything to gain wealth. Look at the hit TV series Fear Factor, what was it that drives the participants to do crazy stuff? You are right, money and fame. The rich find their hope in their material possessions. Their identity is engraved in their luxury cars. Their heart is taken by fame. They love their wealth more than anything else.
Do not get me wrong here. I am not trying to preach against wealth and say that Christians are supposed to be poor. No! God did not call us to be beggars on the streets and walk around with orange robes asking for alms. Nor did God called us to isolate ourselves from the world and live in the caves. Being poor is not one of God’s commandments in the Bible. I am preaching against the love of money and the hope that people place in their material wealth.
Christopher Foster thought that life was over when he lost his wealth and his successful business. He thought that life was just that. But today I want to tell you that there is more to life than this! Place your hope not on wealth but in God!
Be rich but do not love money. Be rich but be even richer in giving than receiving.
Be rich but be ready to lose everything and still love God!
You will only be able to do this if you know that…
THERE IS MORE TO LIFE THAN THIS…
The burnt mansion.
The Father.
The Mother.
The Daughter.
*Pictures compiled from the internet. Information taken from STAR Newspaper and also from the internet.
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