A SELFISH REASON TO OBEY
A lot of folks see God’s rules as a hindrance to their happiness. It started with Eve. Only one rule to remember, but she was convinced she would be happier if she broke it. We wonder how she could be so foolish, then often duplicate her foolishness. Perhaps we should think a little more “selfishly,” by asking ourselves, “why does God want me to obey this rule?”
If that doesn’t make sense to you, let me share a fairy tale with you. (Our Small Group is studying the 10 Commandments and last week we were on #5 – Honor your parents. I found this story that illustrates really well that obedience can contain a selfish reason.)
The Old Man and His Grandson – A fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm
There was once a very old man, whose eyes had become dim, his ears dull of hearing, his knees trembled, and when he sat at the table he could hardly hold the spoon, and spilt the broth upon the table-cloth or let it run out of his mouth. His son and his son’s wife were disgusted at this, so the old grandfather at last had to sit in the corner behind the stove, and they gave him his food in an earthenware bowl, and not even enough of it. And he used to look towards the table with his eyes full of tears. Once, too, his trembling hands could not hold the bowl, and it fell to the ground and broke. The young wife scolded him, but he said nothing and only sighed. Then they bought him a wooden bowl for a few half-pence, out of which he had to eat.
They were once sitting thus when the little grandson of four years old began to gather together some bits of wood upon the ground. “What are you doing there?” asked the father. “I am making a little trough,” answered the child, “for father and mother to eat out of when I am big.”
The man and his wife looked at each other for a while, and presently began to cry. Then they took the old grandfather to the table, and henceforth always let him eat with them, and likewise said nothing if he did spill a little of anything.