The June 14th issue of Time magazine carried an interesting article by Garrison Keillor, entitled, “Faith at the Speed of Light,” wherein he quotes Microsoft icon Bill Gates as saying, “Just in terms of allocation of time re-sources, religion is not very efficient.  There’s a lot more I could be doing on a Sunday morning.”  This statement il-lustrates very well the words of Jesus when he said, “As-suredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 19:23).  It is certainly not im-possible that someone like Bill Gates could obey the gospel and be saved, but it is difficult.  Why is it difficult?
     Covetousness is one of the besetting sins of human-ity.  A man who loves his wealth has room in his heart for little else.  It is rare for a person to be rich and not set his heart upon his wealth; and it is impossible for a man who is rich and who sets his heart upon his riches, to get to heaven (1 Tim. 6:17-19).  John said, “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 Jn. 2:15).
     It is hard not to be charmed with this smiling world, and when someone will not even think past the time re-quired to worship God on a Sunday morning, he is certainly in love with this world.  To such people, God is not very efficient allocation of their time.  How do you compare a little time here to an eternity away from God?  Intelligence and ingenuity can build you an earthly empire, but it can also keep you from a heavenly inheritance.