Grab Bag

KAIROS #20 begins next Thursday and I was reading through some of the talks that are given on the first night. One of the talks tells of a king's encounter with a farmer. This is, of course, a fictional story but it teaches a great lesson. Here is the story as it is read to the inmates.

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There's a story from long ago about a farmer who was walking down a road when he saw the king riding up in his carriage. When the carriage pulled up, the king greeted the farmer and asked him what he had in his bag.

The farmer answered, "I have wheat, your majesty."

The king then said, "Would you give me some of your wheat?" The farmer replied, "Certainly, your majesty."

So, he opened his bag, carefully took out one grain of wheat and gave it to the king. Thereupon, the king turned, reached into his carriage and took out his bag, which was a bag full of money, gave the farmer one gold coin and then drove away.

As the farmer watched him leave and stared at the shining gold coin, he couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if he had given the the king the whole bag.

Try giving the whole bag this weekend and I think you'll be very happy with what you get back.

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The point of the story as it relates to the prison weekend is to let the inmates know that what they get out of this weekend will depend on how much they give and how much they get involved. If they are passive and not partipating much, they will get little out of it.

As I am typing this, I actually think this little story could be used as a nice intro into offering time at our local churches. Before the offering is collected, there is almost always someone who stands up and reads a scripture on giving such as Malachi 3:10. I think this story might get people to think about their giving. I am not suggesting people "give the whole bag" and empty their wallets, but rather to realize that what they give is in direct proportion to the blessings or lack of that they will receive. The bible says in 2 Corinthians 9:6 "But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully."

God wants us as christians to "give the whole bag" in our christian walk. 1 Corinthians 1:10 says "Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God."

This is a challenge for all christians, myself included, because we can easily get caught up in the stresses of this world and find ourselves only giving that one grain of wheat.

We need to encourage one another to give the whole bag when it comes to the things of God and advancing His kingdom.