Donald Barnhouse⁽¹⁾ tells us the following story:

On a Sunday Morning, as he was preaching in a southwestern United States church, the pastor whispered to Barnhouse, “Do you see that lady in the shabby dress, wearing the worn out shoes and sitting in the front pew?”

 Barnhouse looked at the sixty year old lady who was dressed in an extremely old and patched up outfit. As he looked at her, the old lady stretched out her foot which revealed a big hole in her shoe. Out of pity, Barnhouse considered giving her some money to ease her misery.

 However, the pastor said to him, “This lady and her husband lived in a mobile wagon and owned a lot of barren land on which cattle used to graze. When oil was discovered on their land, a company approached them with a contract to utilize their land. However, her husband died before agreeing to the contract and she was hesitant about signing it herself.

 Although she’s the potential of making millions in the oil extraction process, she opposes signing it even though she’s in need of the money. She’s still wandering in her wagon and living in misery.”

 This is the case of many believers who have the opportunity to inherit God’s Kingdom and share in His glory. Jesus’ blessing becomes theirs so that they may attain every spiritual blessing in Heavens (Eph. 1.2). God the Father presents them with all the riches to enjoy. However, they fall short of reaching them. They do not even ask for a fraction of what God wants to give them.

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: المليونيرة الفقيرة.

Reveal to me Your Treasures in me

How many times I seek for the compassion of others,

And crave for a complement to cheer my heart,

Or an emotion that fills my soul,

Or an encouraging word to support me!

I live in humiliation.

I beg for flattery and love of others,

And You are all the love.

You are the only and real support.

Reveal Your treasures in me.

Let Your Holy Spirit lead me to Your hidden treasure in me.

Hence, I will realize my richness in You and with You.

I long for abundant giving instead of soliciting.

Footnotes and references for this page here at St-Takla.org:

(1) Cf. Donald Grey Barnhouse. Let Me Illustrate, 1995, pp. 51-52.

In the Path of his Father

Short Stories (Stories for the Youth) Books by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

Better Than you and me