Soup from stones
Three soldiers exhausted after fighting in a war wandered into a small village. They were thirsty and hungry.
Villagers looking at them enter the village quickly hid away all their provisions for fear that they may have to part with them.
The soldiers knocked door to door only to be told by the villagers that that the crops had failed them and so had nothing to offer.
After much disappointment, the soldiers brought the elders together and said “Your crops have failed you and you have nothing to eat for yourselves. So we want to share with you a secret of how you can make soup from stones”.
They all exclaimed with wonder “soup from stones?” The soldiers then took three smooth stones from their bag and put it in a huge pot set on the fire.
They asked for ingredients for the soup. From the homes of the villagers came the onions, tomatoes, lentils, parsley and everything that could make the soup.
Soon there was a feast in the village where everyone were treated to a tasty soup made from the stones. The village elder asked the soldiers “What is the secret of these stones?”
They replied “The secret is not in the stones. It is in the act of sharing that each of you had done. There would not have been such a celebration in the village if each of could continued to hide the provisions you were storing selfishly for yourselves”.
Along life’s journey we have many celebrations. But the most meaningful and joyful celebrations are those where there is self-giving, self-sacrifice and sharing of one’s resources, especially with those who are less privileged.
In the Bible we find that the early community of believers sold their lands and houses and placed the proceeds at the feet of the apostles for distribution among those who were needy among them.
Because of this act of unselfishness, there was nobody in want (Acts 4:34) St.
Paul says to his community, “Let each one give as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7)
Jesus promises rewards for those who share generously “Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over” (Luke 6: 38).
God judges us not by what we have but by what we give. He does not look at what we have saved, but what we have shared.
Evangelist John Wesley was so filled with a spirit of giving that he said, “Whenever I get money, I quickly give it away before it finds a place in my heart”.
The more possessive we are of our resources, the more insecure will we feel. What are you holding on to? Give generously. God’s storehouse of blessings for you will never go empty.
