A Dying Man’s Thoughts and Solomon’s Wisdom #46

7 Billion Dollars but he couldn't take it with him! Steve Jobs passed away after losing his battle with Pancreatic Cancer at the age of 56 but his last words relate to another famous wise guy, King Solomon. The Fearless Faith crew breaks down wisdom from what is worthwhile and what is meaningless.

Dan, Terry, and Brian will help you live your life with purpose, change someone’s life for the better and leave a lasting impact on those around you. Everyone starts the race... but only the Fearless Finish Strong!
 
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Transcript

Brian Roland: 0:03

Sometimes I feel more canine than human but yeah, what you're saying there,

Terry Steen: 0:09

I think around your dogs

Dan Wheeler: 0:11

and they are great dogs. I'll tell you I was just with them. Okay five you are loved when you are born you will be loved when you die in between you have to manage note if you just want to walk fast walk alone but if you want to walk far walk together now there is something very wise.

John Matarazzo: 0:29

Live your life with purpose change someone's life for the better and leave a lasting impact on those around you. Welcome to finish strong the podcast designed to help you discover your unique purpose and develop a plan to leave a powerful legacy. Dan, Bryan and Terry are ready. So let's get started.

Dan Wheeler: 0:46

I remember my first job in high school, I was frying chicken at chicken coop chicken, and I was waiting on customers. I made $1.60 an hour. Oh, you beat me. Brian, what did you make your first job?

Brian Roland: 1:00

I think it was$1.45. Was that a carwash? Oh,

Terry Steen: 1:03

a heads up in the winter. Terry, I made $1.50 working it as a custodian at a school.

Dan Wheeler: 1:12

Well, today we're going to talk about a guy who was worth over $7 billion at the end of his life, a figure most of us can't even comprehend. And yet, he wasn't totally fulfilled. We're in talking about it in this edition of finished strong. I'm Dan Wheeler. I'm joined by Brian Rowland and Terry Steen and our producer, John Matarazzo. We've got a lot to cover. Steve Jobs is who we're going to talk about. You guys have all heard of Steve Jobs. I mean, you think of Apple Apple computers, how much do they affect our life on a daily basis? Hmm.

Terry Steen: 1:46

Well, it's incredible. And I'm still upset that I didn't buy stock early on.

Brian Roland: 1:52

I'm upset that I sold stock earlier.

Dan Wheeler: 1:55

So I'm, well Steve Jobs give you a little background. He was the co founder, CEO chairman of Apple computers. His birth parents actually put him up for adoption and he was adopted by Claire and Paul Paul jobs. As a youngster he'd worked with his dad on electronics in the garage. You know, he tested so high in fourth grade that the school want him to jump up to high school. But his parents said no. And so he became kind of a prankster in school out of boredom. Terry and Brian were all pranksters, but not because of that high IQ. I mean,

Terry Steen: 2:29

yeah, they didn't ask me to move up a grade. I promise you they

Brian Roland: 2:32

wanted me to go the other way.

Dan Wheeler: 2:34

For my best years were the fourth grade. He dropped out of college after six months and 1974 He was a video game designer. See if you remember this name for Atari. Some of those

Terry Steen: 2:49

that took place that replaced our Ping Pong Pong game.

Dan Wheeler: 2:55

I love that that was kind of my speed there. Nah, he traveled to India for enlightenment and experimented with psychedelic drugs after he left Atari. In 1976. He formed apple with Steve Wozniak in his family's garage in 1985. He was forced out of the company formed next, which was a computer platform company came back revitalize the company in 97. Now, he died in 2011. Guys at the age of 56, and pancreatic cancer, sobering. Yeah, his net worth was around $7 billion, as I mentioned earlier, so we're going to examine his last words as he summed up his life because they are really telling their profound but I think sad we're going to read through and I'm going to read the first part and then Brian's gonna jump in and Terry, but listen to Steve Jobs last words, I reached the pinnacle of success in the business world, and others eyes, my life is an epitome of success. However, aside from work, I have little joy. In the end, wealth is only a fact of life that I am accustomed to. At this moment, lying on the sick bed and recalling my whole life, I realized that all the recognition and wealth that I took so much pride in have paled and become meaningless in the face of impending death. You can employ someone to drive the car for you make money for you, but you cannot have someone to bear the sickness for you. Material things loss can be found but there is one thing that can never be found when it is last life.

Brian Roland: 4:33

When a person goes into the operating room, he will realize that there is one book that he has yet to finish reading book of healthy life. Whichever stage in life we are at right now with time we will face today when the curtain comes down. Treasure love for your family will love for your spouse, love for your friends, treat yourself well. Cherish others

Terry Steen: 4:58

as we grow older and hence wiser we slowly realize that wearing a 300 or a$30. Watch, they both tell the same time, whether we carry a$300 or a $30 wallet or Haim handbag the amount of money insides the same, whether we drive 150,000 are a $30,000 car, the road and the distance is the same, and it takes us to the same destination, whether we drink a bottle of 300 or $10 wine, the hangovers the same. It's what they say, whether the house we live in is 300 or 3000 square feet, loneliness is the same, you'll realize your true inner happiness does not come from the material things of this world. Whether you fly first or economy class, if the plane goes down, you go down with it.

Dan Wheeler: 5:54

Therefore, I hope you realize when you have mates, buddies and old friends, brothers and sisters, who you chat with laugh with talk with, have sing songs with talk about north, south, east, west, or even Heaven and Earth. That is true happiness. Now, he goes on to say a few other things that we'll come back to in the end. But it's very telling. When you look at a guy who he says in his own word, words, he reached the pinnacle of success in the business world. He was the epitome of success. But apart from work, he said he had very little happiness. So really guys, his money and his success. What did he think about it was kind of meaningless. It's shocking when you think about.

Terry Steen: 6:42

Yeah, that's the key part of that whole first section, that sentence stood out to me more than anything aside from work, I have little joy. And the problem is, is he put his whole life into his work. And too many times people do that, don't they? They get so caught up with the career and the money and everything that they get consumed with it and realize it's not bringing them joy.

Dan Wheeler: 7:09

But Brian, you and I have met a lot of famous people have said, Man, I got to the top and said that's all there is.

Brian Roland: 7:15

While I was reading that, look into my Bible, too. And I came across Deuteronomy 817 and 18 That said, Beware lest you say in your heart, my power, and the might have my hand have gotten me this wealth, you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm His covenant that he swore to your fathers as it is this day, when we start thinking that we could do it ourselves is when we find out in the end that it's not true. We all think that we made this happen, but it wasn't that at all. And God has planned for us if we're gonna happen or not, but does he get the honor and the glory? It depends on us and our relationship with Him.

Dan Wheeler: 7:52

Ecclesiastes is written by Solomon, the wisest man to ever live. He said, in verse 17, of chapter one, and I gave my heart to no wisdom, it's no madness and folly. I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. I mean, Steve Jobs, very brilliant. Man had a lot of knowledge and wisdom. And yet, the money the fame, didn't give him much happiness at all. You know, it's easy to look at other people and say, I want what they have. We did a podcast once called the prison of want Terry, and it's so easy to want more and more and more. Exactly. That's not the answer.

Terry Steen: 8:30

Well, you were talking about King Solomon and I moved down one more chapter in the 17th verse. It says, I hated life, because the work that was done under the sun was grievious to me, for all his vanity and grasping for the wind. So that was kind of his theme. But he, he was talking about work being hot and troublesome and grievious. And it just in the long run, didn't mean anything. Yeah,

Dan Wheeler: 8:58

that's the section on money and wealth. But then he talked about how you face sickness and death alone. He said, You know, you go into the operating room alone, you have to carry that burden yourself. And I saw that when Beth got stage four cancer, no one could walk that journey for us. For her she had she was the one that had to do the chemo treatments, the procedures, the stents put in, etc, etc. And I was there with her as her support feeling like I was alone because other people couldn't do that job for me and you know, you You're, you're alone if you face it alone, but you don't have to face it alone. Because in Psalm 23 Verse four David said, Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for the hour with me. That's what I feel was missing. In Steve Jobs. Final words was that, that faith in God when we are Living in him and with him, we have everything because we have eternal life.

Terry Steen: 10:04

Mm hmm. That's so good, Dan. And that's the truth. So many do face it alone. And the Bible tells us that we don't have to. I've talked to numerous pastors, as you know, many pastors do funerals and memorial services. It's really easy to do a service for a born again, believer. But when you have to do a service for someone who does not know Christ as their Savior, or they're not sure, or the indications would be they don't, that is one of the hardest things for the pastor to do. Because how do you put a positive spin on a life that does not have eternity ahead in half.

Brian Roland: 10:48

And over in Psalm 146, for the Bible tells us to when his breath departs, he returns to the earth. On that very day, he has plans perish. So no matter what plans you're making for yourself, or what, how you're planning on building your business, or where you're taking your life, in which direction, it all parishes, when you take that last breath, because you just return to Earth, return to the earth. And then like we've mentioned in previous podcasts, we have to think of spiritual things, because that goes on forever. It's eternal. Or this is just physical.

Dan Wheeler: 11:23

And Steve Jobs own words, he said, you can employ someone to drive the car for you, make money for you, but you can not have someone to bear the sickness for you. Right material things loss can be found. But there's one thing that can never be found when there's lost life. Let's talk about that for a second. Because right off the top of my head, I can't think of the reference. But the Bible says, you know, he that find his life shall lose it. But he that loses his life for my sake, shall find it. That's how we find our life is by losing ourselves in Jesus in God.

Terry Steen: 12:03

Yeah, yeah. And perspective changes, as you're laying on your deathbed. Or, as you sense mortality setting in, I was thinking about my dad when he was getting ill, and fading. And I noticed that change all the things that he really got excited about. He loved the Chicago Cubs. And he loved watching TV, and he loved reading his newspaper. And as I would ask him about things like that, I surprisingly, realize that he didn't really care about that anymore. He wasn't even watching the Cubs play anymore. And I realized that as his perspective, and his mind shifted during those times of slowly going downhill, that the things of interest that we have shift to, and as Christians, it should be moving toward eternal things hidden. Why? So true.

Brian Roland: 13:07

You're right, I'll tell you, when when my father was was passed, passing away, he was on his deathbed. He had my mom was his was his mentor in Christ, she led him to the Lord. But the thing he would thought about any asked her about was, do you think God will forgive me for the things I couldn't do? I mean, he was like, there was things he thought he should be doing. But he couldn't do it. He didn't feel like he was honorable enough to do it for the Lord or something like that, you know, but he had he had this guilt come over him, which I think was Satan playing with his mind saying, where's your God now, but my mind just reassured him. He was in the right place at the right time, we're supposed to be in the Lord. And we know that we know where he went, because he shortly after that, he took his last breath. But you start thinking of things eternal. That's the truth. But as soon as you get closer to it, it's true.

Dan Wheeler: 13:54

Well, I'm going to give John Matarazzo heads up because Terry, you said, our perspective changes. You and I are in our late 60s. Brian's a little bit older. But John, John, how old are you? 3737? Yeah, okay. So, you know, we've all come to the point we realize that money and material things and fame, you know, doesn't satisfy you. I know, you're a wise guy and you've been raised in the Lord, but I'm sure you see people your age, just working their tails off to get ahead, to get money to get that new car. I know you you've gotten a few raises along the way. We've celebrated probably nothing like 7 billion. Definitely not that but um, but but as you observe the words of Steve Jobs, and all the money and all the success what strikes you the most? Well, I

John Matarazzo: 14:47

like the comparison that you made with Solomon and Ecclesiastes, you know, it's all it's all vanity. You know that the things that that stick out to me, like, Yes, it's nice to have good things, good quality things. You know, go on vacations and things like that. But something that is always bouncing around in my brain in my spirit is a legacy. What legacy will I leave behind? Hmm, what investment Am I making into other people's lives, that are really going to make a difference beyond just for the moment, you know, like, telling somebody about Jesus will change their eternity, you know, helping mentor somebody will change the trajectory of their life. I know that because I've been mentored that helped me substantially in life. So those are the things that I really focus on. But yeah, I do see a lot of people that are just striving to keep up with the Joneses. Yeah,

Terry Steen: 15:39

you know, it's interesting, what Karen and I talked frequently about what he was saying about the price of the car that you drive, getting you from point A to point B. And it's never something that we thought was a priority. We didn't feel we were using God's money as well as we could, by driving too nice a car. It just didn't seem right, when it could be used for other things. And, you know,

Dan Wheeler: 16:05

I was talking to John about people who just work, work, work. I mean, that's all and they end up sacrificing their, their health. And I'm sure Steve Jobs, you know, he would have given all his wealth back for his health, I hear that people give up all their health to achieve wealth. And once they've achieved the wealth, but lost their health, they would give all their wealth back. So it's kind of a vicious circle, we do need to take care of ourselves. First Corinthians 619 says, No, you're not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own. So we're supposed to take care of ourselves. But, boy, you don't want to be so driven, that you just lose sight of all the important things in life. How many

Brian Roland: 16:47

people have we seen that they're so consumed in the business and what they're doing that that's all they talk about, and they go over things over and over as if they're given you a pitch constantly. I mean, that happens, they just get over and consumed with it. And there's just no room for anything else in their life.

Dan Wheeler: 17:06

You know, somebody very well whose life but yeah, it's, you know, it's a it's a trap. It really is st and sets a lot of traps and the glitter and the shine of gold and silver and cars, you know, it's out there. And we all want to have nice things. But I think of Mother Teresa, you know, she gave up everything and lived among the poor and served the poor and just gave her life for that. You know, Steve Jobs did realize some important things he talked about family and friends are very important. I'll read it again where I said therefore I hope you after he said you know that Happiness doesn't come from material things he says I hope you realize when you have mates buddies, and old friends brothers and sisters who chat with you laugh with you talk with have sing songs with talk about north south east west are heaven on earth. That is true happiness. You know, we have we've all had great families come from great families. But guys, people always often comment on fearless faith that they're kind of amazing. Three of us have stayed such good friends for 4849 years, but it's something we've had the workout, but we realized it's important.

Terry Steen: 18:21

Yeah, definitely like listen, Proverbs 1717 It tells how friend loves at all time. But it goes on to say a brother is born for adversity. To be a true friend to be a true brother. You have to be there for the other person you love. And then righteous in Psalms 12 It talks about righteous, the righteous choose friends carefully. So you have to be careful about it. But there's nothing better than friends and family and how important that is as you come into your last days.

Brian Roland: 18:57

It's true. And over and Romans 1210s What I like to go back to on this section would be love one another with brotherly affection. outdo one another was showing honor. And I think you know how true that is.

Dan Wheeler: 19:11

Yeah. And Brian, you've got friends back from childhood and Cleveland, you talk about all the time the Gugliotta is the the fun cools, the muscle is. Let's let's move on because we're running out of time. Steve Jobs near the end of his talk. We didn't read these yet. He said there's five undeniable facts of life one, don't educate your children to be rich, educate them to be happy. So when they grow up, they will know the value of things, not the price.

Terry Steen: 19:39

That's good. Yeah. Think about that, for even our grandchildren. That they would understand the importance of happiness and joy in life

Dan Wheeler: 19:49

true. The best awarded words in London. Eat your food is your medicines otherwise you have to eat medicines as your food.

Terry Steen: 19:59

Let me make a note that

Dan Wheeler: 20:02

the one who loves you will never leave you for another because even if there are 100 reasons to give up, he or she will find one reason to hold on to, you know, Steve Jobs with this with his wife for years and only had one wife, you gotta admire that because a lot of people at that level, and they start looking but he realized, there's one reason to hold on to that person you love. You'll find that reason.

Terry Steen: 20:27

Yeah, Karen's still looking for mine. But as soon as she gets it, I'm gonna work with her on that

Brian Roland: 20:33

I should be around for another 20 years.

Dan Wheeler: 20:36

Yeah, she'll live a long life she gives off. We're just kidding. I'm sure Terry has one or two. Okay, number four, you know, we're kidding. We're good friends. There's a big difference between a human being and being human. Only if you really understand that. Mm

Terry Steen: 20:55

hmm. I'm apparently not one that understood that one. It just means do you live as a human? Or are you just a human? Do you have the feelings and the emotions of being a human? Right?

Brian Roland: 21:10

That's a good take on it. Yeah. I think that he just said though, and yeah, you're right. That's sometimes I feel more canine than human. But yeah, what you're saying there,

Terry Steen: 21:22

I think around your dogs.

Dan Wheeler: 21:24

Yeah. And they are great dogs. I'll tell you I was just with them. Okay, five, you are loved when you are born, you will be loved. When you die in between, you have to manage note, if you just want to walk fast walk alone. But if you want to walk far walk together. Now there is something very wise, I often think of footprints in the sand. You know, when the guy had a dream, and he looked back, and there were two sets of footprints, but at the most troubling times, difficult times were only one. And God said it was done that I carried you I didn't leave you.

Terry Steen: 21:56

Yeah. And would each of us be doing this ministry? If it was just ourselves? No way. No, we couldn't you. You'd come along beside others.

Dan Wheeler: 22:05

Yes. I couldn't do it without you. And I don't know you might be able to do it, though. Me but okay. He says the six best doctors in the world are sunlight, rest, exercise, diet, self confidence. And friends. You know, it's interesting, I just thought of your wife Karen posted something not long ago where Jesus said, You know, I'm the light of the world. And in me, you'll find rest. You know, I'm a friend that sticks closer than a brother, you know, I'm the bread of life. All those things that God is that cover a lot of this. But these were Steve Jobs, thoughts. Um, but guys, it seems like he said, maintain them in all stages of life and enjoy a healthy life. I think what's missing is there's life after life. Yeah, what are we working for this life? And Ecclesiastes 1213. And 14. Solomon summed it all up when he said, Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. And I'm going to have to find that passage here and read it to you. But it's it's just fascinating how Steve Jobs without knowing it was covering so many things that the Bible says in verse 13, let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter, Fear God, and keep His commandments for this as the whole duty of man, for God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil, Brian, our works are gonna either burn up, or the hat eternal value. And that's what's missing here. Who are we living our life for?

Brian Roland: 23:42

That's just a Hebrews 927 tells us and just that is an appointment for a man to die once after that comes judgment. So make your time count.

Terry Steen: 23:53

Yeah, he had some great wisdom for us. But it's a little bit hollow. Because of those last points, isn't it? If we're not doing it for God, if we're not doing things for eternity, and have that perspective, then it's hollow.

Dan Wheeler: 24:09

And we want you listening to know that you can know that you're going to spend your eternity in heaven, which will be far better than anything money can buy any success that we can achieve. Even any friends that we have, it will all be glorious. And it's easy. John 316. Guys, we all learned it. As kids for God so loved the world, gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Wow. Nothing more greater. Nothing more important to achieve in this world. Amen. Brian, you know where you're going, don't you?

Brian Roland: 24:52

I do know where I'm going. I'm taking you with me.

Dan Wheeler: 24:55

Absolutely. And we're gonna Terry Elijah has

Terry Steen: 24:58

to Yeah, if you don't mind

Dan Wheeler: 25:01

John, we know John's gonna be there with us. Drew, you know, Beth, when she was dying, she was seeing heaven. She had her eyes so fixed on that wall. You know, she wasn't afraid. She said, I'm sad, but I'm not afraid. One day I said, What do you see? What are you looking at? She said heaven. I said as a beautiful she said, Oh, yes, boy, that just built my faith up guys to see her doing that. To that she knew where she was going.

Terry Steen: 25:30

Transnet in Troy. Yeah.

Dan Wheeler: 25:34

Well, this has been interesting. I'll tell you, Steve Jobs. You know, I pray that that he found the Lord. You don't know. I know. Mickey Mantle, who felt like his life was a big disappointment. Because he was an alcoholic. He didn't like signing autographs, but Bobby Richardson just kept working on it kept working on him. And three days before he died, Bobby walked into his hospital room and Mickey had a smile on his face had come here Bobby said I accepted Jesus as my Savior.

Terry Steen: 26:07

What a great story.

Dan Wheeler: 26:09

When I heard that I knew Mickey's in a greater Hall of Fame. Turn the one in Cooperstown, Ohio. So no matter what you think you've achieved in this world, or what you think you can achieve? It's all gonna be greater when we get to heaven, so don't waste your life. on material things are striving to find fame and fortune and success. Steve Jobs discovered didn't make you happy and so did Solomon. Fear God, love them with all your heart. Well, it's been another rich episode of finish strong and that's how we finish strong in life. Helping others to know where they're going when they die. God bless. And we'll hopefully have you join us on our next episode of finish strong.

John Matarazzo: 26:55

Thank you for listening to finish strong. For more information about finished strong and fearless faith. Check out their website F faith.org. Make sure that you rate and review this podcast to help more people accomplish their God given purpose so that together we can finish strong