Shallow Show of Appreciation

Verse 1

One day, a person who I called an old friend came to me once and said:

"Please Dear Brother, take this gift for your ever generous service to my person."

With this, he presented me with a ticket to a most exquisite banquet, and I have heard tell of events such as these, filled with nobles and royalties not fitting for as simple a man as me.

Politely declining, I looked from the ticket to his face, now smiling and said:

"Think nothing of it, my Brother, for surely there are others who would impose a heftier fine for services akin to mine, so take your offer and be on your way, for when I choose to do good, that's enough credit due my day."

With this, my friend made his peace and took his leave.

Verse 2

One day, this same person who I called an old friend came to me and said:

"Dear Brother, I come before you now to offer you the promise as I have previously vowed, a bag full of gold, for you to live a life well endowed. Now surely, as persistent as the rain falls on the earth, as true believers of the Word flock to church, that this may show you - that indeed, my display of gratitude is steadfast and true."

At this, I opened the bag and it was no farce; the wealth contained within, till my dying breath, would surely last. But despite my brother's earnest generosity, I found my own convictions to be much more compelling, and replied:

"As I told you before dear brother, I will tell you now, think nothing of it, except for your own benefit. However, for even the kindest portions of your wealth, I have no need - lest my heart grow blackened, and hungry from greed."

"I will acknowledge your offer and take it to heart, this much is as least owing on my part. Now, if your ears have heard and your heart understand as much as I do, you will make your peace and bid me adieu."

And with this, my friend made his peace and took his leave.

Verse 3

One day, this same person who I called an old friend, came before me yet again and this time he said:

"Dear brother, why do you resist my most generous of gifts? Does it discourage your heart so, that accepting someone's thanks, to you is just a mere show? What I am about to tell you, surely you already know, that by giving gifts in thanks, by this way we earnestly show."

"But I am a curious man, so tell me why, lest I prove myself otherwise, do you have no desire? Do you think of my gifts to be of no use, or perhaps you believe my gratitude towards you is still just a shallow ruse?"

"However, I am also a patient man, dear Brother, who now seeks your counsel that is ever so wise, due to your prudent teaching through the hours of the early morning and the silence of dead nights. So now, teach me your counsel of sound mind, and in thanks may you ask anything of me, indeed name your price."

Now, I considered for some time the words of my Brother, who now waited patiently for my reply, yes I formed my answer expertly, lest I provided a solution that would never satisfy.

"O Dear Brother, whom I love as though you were my own, I will speak to you my final words on the matter and then you shall know."

"That your gifts rejections, of which neither disdain nor reproach are my heart's intentions. Come now and listen to me that I may show you the light, so that you too may live a different attitude towards life."

"For your wealth, let me ask you of what is its worth? For to me, gold and silver are measured by a man who goes out to seek an honest day's work."

"Now, of your bountiful feast that you offer me, how could it ever hope to please? What good is a well-roasted turkey without the necessary good company to keep me from feeling lonely? Of wine and spirits, will they truly mend my hurt? For I tell you that I have no need of them if they do not quench my heart's true thirst."

"O dear Brother, allow me to tell you that pain and pleasure are both of equal measure, what I mean is that they each could never hope to last, neither in days to come or in days long past."

"Now of the examples you have shown, I offer you my own. Just as at birth I was given a name, in death I will be given a grave. Like others before you, they have tried giving me treasures, some more, others less but never quite the same."

"Surely, if God is my maker then He too is my keeper, for what I have is not truly mine and what my heart seeks I may never find, such is the endless pursuit of life."

"For what my heart truly desires, none but Him can give, and should I ask of more than this, to Him I have sinned."

"And so I ask for your gracious forgiveness, for I will not accept your gifts, for they are not for you to give, but only that from Him."