There is an old Nigerian folktale that tells of a great feast. The tribal chief was rejoicing over the recent birth of a son, and wishing to celebrate the occasion, messengers were sent far and wide to invite people to attend. “All of the food will be provided,” they announced, “but each person is asked to bring a jug of wine.”
One of the villagers was a man named Ezra. He wanted very much to come, but he had no wine. “You could always purchase some,” his wife suggested. “It seems a small price to pay for so great a feast.”
“How foolish to spend money,” Ezra exclaimed, “when there must be a way to go for free.” And so, he began pacing the floor, trying to come up with a clever plan. Finally, an idea hit him, which seemed so simple he was surprised that he hadn’t thought of it sooner. “Rather than wine,” he said to himself, “I will bring a jug of water. After all, several hundred will be attending the feast. What harm can possibly come from adding one jug of water to so great a pot of wine?”
On the day of the celebration, all dressed in their finest robes. As the people entered, they each poured their wine into a large earthen pot. Carefully concealing his jug of water, Ezra poured its contents into the pot as well. “No one will ever be the wiser,” he chuckled, and promptly joined the others at the feast.
When all of the villagers arrived, the chief commanded the music to cease and ordered the servants to dispense the wine. “Let us drink to the birth of my son,” he said, lifting his cup.
Suddenly, a cry of shock arose from the assembly, for what everyone tasted was not wine, but water! Like Ezra, they had all secretly brought water, thinking that one jug of water could not possibly spoil so great a pot of wine.
Of course, the moral of this little story is that each of us has gifts to share, and that means that every single one of those gifts is significant. We sometimes wonder whether our humble contributions really make that much of a difference. However, as the Apostle Paul reminds us, “There are a variety of gifts, but it is the same Spirit that gives them. To each of us is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
At this time of year, when we are already giving thanks to God for our many gifts, let us also remember that we are given those gifts to share them with others.
One of the villagers was a man named Ezra. He wanted very much to come, but he had no wine. “You could always purchase some,” his wife suggested. “It seems a small price to pay for so great a feast.”
“How foolish to spend money,” Ezra exclaimed, “when there must be a way to go for free.” And so, he began pacing the floor, trying to come up with a clever plan. Finally, an idea hit him, which seemed so simple he was surprised that he hadn’t thought of it sooner. “Rather than wine,” he said to himself, “I will bring a jug of water. After all, several hundred will be attending the feast. What harm can possibly come from adding one jug of water to so great a pot of wine?”
On the day of the celebration, all dressed in their finest robes. As the people entered, they each poured their wine into a large earthen pot. Carefully concealing his jug of water, Ezra poured its contents into the pot as well. “No one will ever be the wiser,” he chuckled, and promptly joined the others at the feast.
When all of the villagers arrived, the chief commanded the music to cease and ordered the servants to dispense the wine. “Let us drink to the birth of my son,” he said, lifting his cup.
Suddenly, a cry of shock arose from the assembly, for what everyone tasted was not wine, but water! Like Ezra, they had all secretly brought water, thinking that one jug of water could not possibly spoil so great a pot of wine.
Of course, the moral of this little story is that each of us has gifts to share, and that means that every single one of those gifts is significant. We sometimes wonder whether our humble contributions really make that much of a difference. However, as the Apostle Paul reminds us, “There are a variety of gifts, but it is the same Spirit that gives them. To each of us is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
At this time of year, when we are already giving thanks to God for our many gifts, let us also remember that we are given those gifts to share them with others.
posted by Dr. Robert Crilley at
2:53 PM
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