Children’s Story for September 26th, 2004

By Miriam Rempel, Home Street Mennonite Church, Winnipeg, MB

Bible Passages

• Luke 16: 19-31
• 1 Timothy 6:6-19

Themes

• Luke – Rich man and Lazarus; listen to the prophets and Christ to escape suffering in eternity
• 1 Timothy – do not be pulled in by worldly desires, but strive for righteousness, goodness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness

To tell the Story

• Greet the children and tell them to get comfy for an imaginary story.

Story: The Have-Lots and the Have-Less

Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms, the Have-Lots, and the Have-Less. Now the people of Have-Lots had the biggest houses, the biggest cars, and the fanciest things imaginable. Their kitchens had taps that poured whatever kind of drinks they wanted. They had everything they could possibly want. The Have-Lots lived at the top of a mountain. Sometimes when something was not good enough for the Have-Lots, they would throw it down the mountain, and this was how the Have-Less got everything they had. Whenever the Have-Less heard something rolling down the mountain they all got out of the shelters they managed to build with what came down the mountain, in case it might break their shelter. Then they would gather around it and share it as equally as they could. This way everyone at least had a little

The Have-Lots knew that the Have-Less lived at the bottom of the mountain and promised them that whatever came down the mountain was theirs to keep, but they did not really worry too much about them. A long time ago the King of both kingdoms had made this deal with the Have-Lots. "I will give you everything I have. Whatever you do not need I want you to take down the mountain and share with the people who live there. They are my people, too, and I want you to care for them, as I care for you." Most of the Have-Lots had forgotten what the king had told them. Every once in awhile, the King would send them a messenger to remind the Have-Lots of what he had asked of them. Most people just ignored the messengers and continued to live as before

One day, a great wind came and blew everything down into the valley, leaving the Have-Lots with nothing. The Have-Lots ran down the mountain to reclaim everything they had lost. When they got to the edge of the valley, there they saw the King of both kingdoms. He stopped them and said, “I have lived in this valley since I left you, but you have not shared as I asked you to. Whatever comes down the mountain belongs to my people who live here.” The Have-Lots offered the Have-Less money to return their things. The Have-Less laughed, saying “But, we have everything we need. We do not want your money”. With this they turned around and began to share everything that had come down the mountain. Then they threw a big party to celebrate that they finally had enough, while the Have-Lots sat on the mountain side and watched. I wonder how they felt about not sharing, now?