After Cain killed Abel, God asked Cain where his brother was. And Cain said, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
That penetrating question, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” is found in the first book of the Bible. And I believe that for the rest of the entire Bible, God is answering that question with a resounding, loud, thundering, “YES!”
Once, I was talking to Nanay Socorro Ramos—the owner of National Bookstore. As an 18-year old girl, “Coring” was selling books in a tiny bookstore during the Japanese war. Today, National Bookstore is the largest bookstore chain in the Philippines, with over 150 branches all over the country.
While chatting together, Nanay pulled me closer to herself and whispered, “Brother Bo, I want to tell you something. Do you know that it will be better for me if I just invest all my money, earn from the interest, and just retire and live an easy life? If I do that, I won’t have to deal with the BIR, Customs, Mall rentals, etc. But I can’t do that. Because there are 4,300+ employees that depend on this business. Their families need this business. So here I am, 90 years old, still going to work everyday—Monday to Saturday!”
Why I’m Happier
Money does not make you happy. I realized that money can only make you happy if you were happy before you got the money.
Once upon a time, I was poor and happy. Today, I’m rich and happier. I’m happier NOT just because I can afford to buy stuff. (Okay, I must admit that’s a nice bonus.) I’m happier because I can help my BIGGER family.
When I was a poor missionary, I could only feed one family.
Every day, when I went to Mass, I remember passing by this poor family actually living in the doorsteps of the church. They were so poor, they had nothing to eat. Every so often, I’d dig from my pocket, go to the next-door bakery, and buy them some bread. That was their breakfast.
But I couldn’t do it regularly. Because there were days when I really had nothing.
Today, I run a few businesses. And I have over 100 people working for me, either full-time or part-time.
When I was poor, I could feed one family. Today that I am no longer poor, I can now feed one hundred families.
Isn’t this a fantastic reason to be Truly Rich?
It’s not about the money. It’s not about the wealth. Goodness, it’s not even about you! It’s about God. It’s about love. It’s about service. It’s about dying to yourself so that others may live!
May your dreams come true,
Bo Sanchez
P.S.: Are you broken-hearted? Do you know anyone who just suffered a painful break-up? I want to invite you to a special program called, “Wholehearted: A 90-Day Program to Help You Move On from a Break-up”.
Bo, I want to learn more about Wholehearted. I want to move on and be whole again.
