Pastor Michael Hartwig of Valparaiso, Indiana, tells about visiting a man in a nursing home who had been instrumental in starting the major industry in town. When he died, Pastor Hartwig was asked to do the funeral service. Hartwig was nervous, because he knew their church would be packed with dignitaries.

The service went well, and on the way to the cemetery he began to turn in his Bible to the passage he was to read at the grave side. While he was turning to I Corinthians 15, the funeral director interrupted him and asked him a question. Pastor Hartwig could tell the funeral director was impressed with the message he had brought at the funeral. The funeral director asked several questions, and he answered each one. Hartwig was proud of himself and the job he had done. Here was a man who had listened to hundreds of funeral services, and his was singled out as being one of the best.

With this on his heart Pastor Hartwig stood at the head of the casket with the family and friends in front of him. He asked them to listen to the words of Scripture. He intended to read I Corinthians 15:1. Instead, with much dignity he turned to the passage he had mistakenly turned to as the funeral director flattered him, I Corinthians 5:1. With much dignity he turned to those at the grave side and read: "It is reported commonly that there are fornicators among you!" Pastor Hartwig doesn't tell us what happened after that.

We all like to impress people. We all desire status in the community. We all have our heads turned by flattery. However, if we get stuck on any of the mid-range of needs material comfort, status, power, etc. and believe that this is the ultimate goal of life, we miss the true joy of living. We never discover true fulfillment.