More Precious Than Gold

Oskar Schindler was a man who understood that life is more than simply aquiring silver and gold. He was a wealthy man to say the least- he was a successful German businessman who moved to Poland in the middle of World War 2 to take financial advantage of the German takeover. He did much more than that.

Schindler purchased an old factory, and, because of his powerful connections with certain Nazi officers, was able to bribe the commander of a nearby concentration camp to allow Jewish prisoners to work in this factory. In the end, approximately 1,100 Jews escaped death at the hands of the Nazis because of the work of Oskar Schindler. Untold tens of thoundands of dollars were spent by Schindler to purchase the factory and bribe Nazi officials so that these 1,100 Jews could live.

After the Germans surrendered, Schindler, still a "part" of the Nazi party (in name only), knew he had a better chance of surviving if he dealt with the Americans as opposed to the Russians. Just before his departure, he addressed the 1,100 Jews he had rescued. Just before boarding his vehicle, it has been said that he wept, and in self-condemnation lamented that he didn't save more.

"This car- if only I had sold this car! I could have payed for five more workers in my factory! Five more people would be alive! This ring- at least two more people if I had just sold this ring! I could have done more!"

The onlooking crowd of Jews- now known as the Schindler Jews- comforted him and thanked him with tears as he departed. Today, over 6,000 people, including the children and grandchildren of the Schindler Jews, are alive because of the selflessness of one man who wanted to make a difference.

Christian, what are you doing with your time, talents, and treasures, to make an eternal difference in the lives of people all around us. Our cause is much greater than preserving life on this temporary earth. We have been called to use what God has given us- our lives, our time, our talents, our treasures- to rescue people from spiritual death. Will you come to the end of your life and say, "I could have done more!" Truly, the value of one person is much more precious than gold.