Criswell’s cupids, Roman gods make waves at legendary auction house

Associated Baptist Press carries this article: Criswell’s cupids, Roman gods make waves at legendary auction house

Here is an excerpt from the article:

Scantily clad nymphs attended by flower-bearing maidens. Strapping young gallants gently bending over lovers’ bosoms. Frolicking cupids surrounded by doves and gilt-edged arrows.

The mythological figurines are not exactly the kind of art you’d expect a legendary Baptist pastor to collect.

But at least one did -- W.A. Criswell. And his collection of 19th century Meissen porcelain was grand enough to earn an estimated half a million dollars Oct. 25 at Christie’s art auction house in New York City.

Criswell, the renowned pastor who led First Baptist Church in Dallas for more than 50 years, first developed an interest in Meissen during a post-World War II mission visit to Germany. For decades after that trip, Criswell and his wife, Betty, studied and collected the figurines, Schneeballen, and flower-applied serving and toilette sets made in the region.

The culmination of the Texan’s collecting years comprised the 200-plus lots expected to take in more than $500,000 at auction. Proceeds will benefit the W.A. Criswell Foundation and Criswell College, the Dallas-based college he founded in 1971.

Christie’s international head Jody Wilkie described the collection as “fabulous.”

These verses came to mind as I read this article:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. ^ Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
NIV Mt. 19:23, 24

“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."
NIV Mt. 6:24

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
NIV 1 Ti 6:10

People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ^without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ^treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ^having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
NIV 2 Ti 3:2-5

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”

NIV Heb 13:5

^Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; ^not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

NIV 1 Pe 5:2, 3

We do not need to go so far as the joke about the deacon who prayed, "Lord, if you'll keep our pastor humble, we'll keep him poor." However, there is something inconsistent with one, who claims to be leading others to follow a Master who had no place even to lay his head, amassing such wealth. Perhaps Criswell's estate is belatedly trying to obey the command of Jesus to another rich young ruler: “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (NIV Lk 18:22) However, the wealth is not going to help the poor, but to glorify the giver.

May I quote again the Quote for the Day for 31 October 2007:

"Success is one of the dirtiest temptations of the devil."

-- Madeleine L'Engle
Walking on Water

And also the quote heading this blog:

"For us let it be enough to know ourselves to be in the place where God wants us, and carry on our work, even though it be no more than the work of an ant, infinitesimally small, and with unforeseeable results."

-- Abbé Monchanin

May God deliver us, one and all.