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There is a story of a rich merchant who was known for his
tremendous wisdom and prudence. He had two sons and it was the
tradition that one of them would become the head of the family
after his death. Since this merchant was already old he gathered
his faithful friends and called his two sons. Then he took ten
silver coins, gave each son five coins, and he said: “The day
has come that I have to appoint one of you to be the head of the
family. The messenger of death is at hand. I want you to take
these silver coins. It is only little, nevertheless I want to
test you in order to find out who of you is the wisest. The one
who is able to fill the great barn from bottom to top with his
five silver coins will be the new head of the family!”
The older son observed some of his father’s laborers working
with sugar cane. He thought by himself that the old squeezed
sugar canes could be some good material to fill the old barn. He
gave the five silver coins to the laborers and they did what he
told them. When the father and his faithful friends saw that the
older son had filled the great barn from bottom to top they were
amazed how wisely he spent the money. However, one of the
friends said: “Let’s wait a little bit longer before you make
your final decision. We want to see what your younger son will
do!”
The sun had set already when the younger son arrived. He
commanded the laborers to empty the barn. Then he took a small
candle, put it in the middle of the great barn, and eventually
lit it with some matches. The candle burnt brightly and filled
the whole barn with its warm light – from bottom to top into the
furthest corner. “This son is wiser”, said the father, “for his
brother spent all his money to buy worthless sugar cane. But
this one only spent a cupper coin and he filled the entire barn
with light. He shall be the head of my family!”
So many times we use all our power, and brain, and money, and
skills, etc for worthless things. Instead we should care for
things that have eternal value. The light of God, his love, is
so mighty and powerful that it is able to change a person’s
heart. Let’s be human beings burning with this heavenly light.
Deutsche Evangeliumskirche
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