The Materials You Sent Up
StoryParable★★★★A rich woman died and was received by the angel Gabriel at the gate of Heaven. He took her to see where she was to live, and on the way she admired a splendid house built of gold and precious stones. On asking who lived there she was told the name of a man she had known on earth, and she exclaimed vehemently because he had been so poor and unimportant. “Yes,” agreed Gabriel, “but he was able to send these materials up to us.”
They passed a house built of ivory and lovelycolored marble, and the lady was disgusted to hear it was that of a woman who had been a slum dweller on earth. She had, however, sent up the materials so that her handsome house could be built.
Presently a wretched little mud hovel was reached, and the angel intimated that it was the new arrival’s house. She exclaimed in horror. “We are very, very sorry,” said her guide, “but we did our best with the materials you sent up.”
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Also attributed to: Unknown
The point
A rich woman in heaven is shown the splendid mansions built for the humble poor she knew on earth, while she receives a mud hut because she sent up no good works. The parable teaches that our deeds on earth become our eternal home.