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Someone came to Jesus with this question:
"Teacher, what good things must I do to have eternal life?"
"Why ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "Only God
is good. But to answer your question, you can receive eternal life if you
keep the commandments." "Which ones?" the man asked. And
Jesus replied: " `Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not
steal. Do not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. Love your
neighbor as yourself.'" "I've obeyed all these
commandments," the young man replied. "What else must I
do?" Jesus told him, "If you want to be perfect, go and sell all
you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in
heaven. Then come, follow me." But when the young man heard this, he
went sadly away because he had many possessions. (Matthew
19:16-22 NLV). It was many centuries ago in a
remote village in India. Word began to spread that something was about to
happen that no one had seen in their lifetime, the prince was coming to
visit their forgotten little village. Everyone was excited but no one was
more excited than the village beggar was. Every day he eked out another
day by sitting by the road with his little cup, hoping to get enough money
to buy the rice to live one more day. He actually had two cups one for
collecting money and one for his few grains of rice. But now the prince
was coming, the wealthy prince! When the prince finally arrived, the
beggar mustered his most impassioned appeal, “Alms! Alms for the
poor!” And the prince stopped. The beggar's heart was pounding
furiously. “Give me your cup of rice.” was all that the prince said.
The beggar slumped down in disbelief. Here was the wealthiest man in the
land, asking for his lousy little cup of rice. The beggar was about to
refuse, but instead he reached in and he put three grains of rice in the
prince's hand. The prince turned to his servant and said, “Bring me the
bag of gold.” The beggar could hardly contain himself as he eagerly
stretched out his empty collection cup. The prince reached into his bag
and placed three grains of gold in the beggar's cup. And then he
disappeared, never to return but leaving the beggar to wonder for the rest
of his life . . . what would have happened if he had given him his whole
cup of rice? |
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