I would like to introduce a new guest blogger. His name is Joshua Raibole who serves the Lord in Durgapur, Kolkata, India. He writes of something very familiar with India, but not so familiar in our country, and yet, the message is universal. He writes: “A Bowl of Rice.”
There is a story about a young boy who was a beggar from India.
One day the young beggar saw a wealthy rajah come towards him, riding in his beautiful chariot. The beggar boy took the opportunity for what he hoped would be to receive a coin and stood by the side of the road holding out his bowl of rice. To his surprise, the rajah stopped, looked at the beggar in tattered clothes and said, “Give me some of your rice.”
The boy became angry. To think that this wealthy prince would expect his rice! Gingerly, he gave him one grain of rice.
“Beggar, give me more of your rice.”
The boy seethed in anger, but gave him another grain of rice.
“More, please,” the rajah said.
By now, the beggar was filled with resentment. Once again, he stingily gave the rajah another grain of rice, and then he walked away. As the chariot went on its way, the beggar, in his fury, looked into his bowl of rice. He noticed something glitter. It was a grain of gold, the size of a grain of rice. He looked more carefully and found two more.
For every grain of rice, a grain of gold ~
If we clutch our bowl of rice in life, we shall lose our reward. If we are faithful and give God each grain, He gives us gold in return! Our salvation is secure – but from there on, how we live our lives will dictate how our eternal inheritance and rewards will be!
Jesus said, “Whosoever loses their life for My sake will find it!” This isn’t speaking on salvation, but rather Christ was encouraging us to be willing to give up our bowl of rice on earth, and He will reward us in the next life with treasure more precious than gold.
Jesus is teaching us to not cling to the things of this life in exchange for priceless eternal rewards in heaven. Do not focus on material possessions which will pass with time and will turn to dust, but rather to be generous and giving to those who are in need. In doing so, we will inherit something far more valuable that will last forever. A reward from the King of kings!