A Short Story: Two Brothers, Two Fields, And A Stranger

Image courtesy: prozac1

Good day all, I hope you are all in good spirits!

Today’s message started-out as that, a message. But as I began putting pen to paper 

The Lord spoke to me and as a result the message and the way I was going to deliver it today is completely different than what I intended.

Instead of a short and simple message on the disadvantages of repetitive prayer, today’s message turned into a short story about prayer and so much more, including how we limit ourselves when only asking for God’s blessings in prayer.

It’s the often the little things that can have the biggest impacts on a person’s life, and how lives can be completely changed in one season.

Two Brothers, Two Fields, and a Stranger

Some time ago an old Christian man, that many looked-up too and admired as a committed man of faith, was about to breathe his last.

This old Christian had two sons and he called them in one day to give them each their inheritance, which wasn’t much considering the old Christian, who spent his life doing for others, was never concerned with earthly treasures. 

He was satisfied as long as there was enough to provide for his family, which there always was.

Anyway, to the older son went the larger field and the choicest livestock of his dad’s herd (of which there was few,) and to the younger brother went a field three times as small and the remaining livestock, which were old and even fewer in numbers.

As soon as the old Christian gave his sons their inheritances he passed.

One brother asks for blessings, the other brother gives thanks and more

After the burial of their dad, each brother set about the journey to their respective plots of land.

On the way the older son and his family asked God for His blessings upon their land and for a bountiful harvest, he promised not to continue not to sin, and that they’d pray for His blessing three times a day every day.

Meanwhile, the younger brother and his family gave thanks and praise to God for their land.

And while they too asked for His Blessings upon their land, they asked only for what they needed and enough to be able to help others who might have a bad season.

It took four days for the older brother and his family to reach their land, which was located inland very near the sea, and six days for the younger brother and his family and to reach their land, which was located in a low desert.

The older brother continued to pray for god’s blessings for his land and yield, while the younger prayed prayers of thanks and sang songs of praise to God.

A stranger comes a callin’

Sometime, about the middle of that first season, the older brother was alone on a part of his land when he was approached by a stranger. 

Image courtesy: m.pizzot.com

The exhausted and hungry stranger greeted him warmly and informed the older brother that he was on a journey back to his home, which was a day or two further past the younger brother’s land.

Would it be possible for the stranger to give him some water, a meal, and allow him to rest a night with him, the stranger asked.

The older brother, despite being taught otherwise by his dad, rejected the stranger’s request, telling him he and his family were too busy to help a stranger nor did they have enough food, water, or room in their home or barn for him.

But he did tell him to go see his brother who was a two day ride away and on his way home.

The older brother also gave the stranger a drink of water, a few pieces pieces of fruit, and also told him he could drink from his stream that borders the two brothers’ property but he was not to linger there for fear of keeping his livestock away from their water source.

Two and a half days later the stranger was on the younger brother’s land and in fact came upon him tending to a piece of his land.

He greeted the younger brother warmly and told him of his journey back home and that his brother turned him away but told him to come see him.

The younger brother could see the hunger and tiredness in the stranger’s eyes.

Much to the stranger’s surprise the younger brother warmly welcomed the stranger, knowing he would need food and rest in order to safely make the final long day’s ride home.

He gave the stranger water and told him he’s welcome to all he needs. Then he told him to rest in the shade under his wagon while he finished-up his work and they could head to the house.

The stranger managed to take a nap in the shade of the wagon while the younger brother hurried to finish his work and when he was done he set about home.

Along the way they both told each other their life stories with the stranger admitting that he was a drunkard and his wife kicked him out of their home until he sobered up.

He went to his mother’s home where he sobered up, got a job and saved some money. Six months sober his stunned wife told him he could finally come home, and now here he was only a day’s ride or so from seeing his wife and two children again.

He was overcome with joy!

The younger brother praised God for the stranger turning his life around and also praised the stranger for doing so. He then proceeded to tell him about his dad, his childhood, his family and land, and his faith.

What the stranger didn’t understand was how he could be so kind but his older brother, while not mean, not as kind nonetheless. He kept this to himself however.

That night the younger brother and his family each gave a portion of their meals so the stranger would have a meal large enough to get him through the rough ride he was facing in the morning.

In addition, they included the stranger in the nightly bible study and game playing. They even sang songs, something the stranger’s family had never done even as a kid!

And he relished every minute of it, though he was jealous of the younger brother for his strength in his faith and how his family was indeed a family.

When it was time for bed the younger brother’s children offered-up their bed so the stranger wouldn’t have to sleep in the barn with the noisy animals and he could get a good night’s sleep.

The kids didn’t mind, they looked at it as an adventure. Plus a chance to stay up as late as they wanted too!

Morning came and it was time for the stranger to leave, he and the younger brother were alone outside the barn saying their goodbyes when out of the blue the stranger asked the younger brother to pray with him for a safe journey home and that he might come to know God too.

You can imagine the delight of the stranger as he had recently started a ministry and was more than happy to pray for anyone who asked!

After the prayer, they hugged and the stranger promised to bring his family by to say hello one day while the younger brother said the same.

The two then separated with the stranger heading southeast and the younger brother to his northeastern pasture.

Yep, you reap what you sow

The harvest after that first one, the one when the stranger came, found the younger brother standing in front of his now good-sized church greeting the congregation as they walked into morning service.

As the last few were meandering in, he noticed two wagons he didn’t recognize coming up to the church, each from different directions.

When the first one pulled-up he heard a voice he’d known all his life…his brother! The older brother had come to his church and brought his family!

What a sight to behold as the two brothers embraced each other.

As they were embracing, the other wagon pulled-up and from it both brothers heard a voice they recognized…the stranger, and he brought his family too!

This was all happening so fast but the younger brother was filled with joy.

The younger brother went on to preach the best sermon of his life. 

Campfire confessions and forgiveness

Later that evening all three families gathered together at the younger brother’s house for fellowship, a reunion, and a feast as all three families had bountiful harvests, each receiving four times more than was needed!

Image courtesy: Vichaya Kiatynih Angsulee

As the three men stood alone by the outside fire, the older brother told the stranger how sorry he was for the way he treated him that day in his field. He also apologized to his brother for not being there the way an older brother should.

He then went on to tell them a story of how an angel appeared to him in a dream one night after the first harvest.

You see, when that first harvest came, the harvest he and his family worked so hard for, only yielded enough grain to last until the next harvest. He, having prayed for God’s blessings daily and believing he would receive them, became very upset with god for not rewarding him with at least enough to last two harvests so he could begin storing and selling his grain.

In his dream the angel of God told him God did as he promised and provided enough for his family.

But, he argued, he heard his younger brother’s harvest was enough to last three harvests, and he had smaller land! He asked the angel, was his faith not as strong as his brother’s faith?

The angel of the God replied, “Surely it was, and God did reward you for your faith! 

Do you not have enough for your family for one year, clothes, food, and a roof to slumber under?

Then be not jealous of your brother and learn from him, for your brother asked not for blessings from God first. Instead he thanked and gave praise to God for what was given to him and what he had before ever asking God for anything!

Older brother, younger brother…

Never works on the Sabbath Day.

Never turns a stranger away, but rather welcomes them with open arms.

Always has faith in God to provide for you and your family, including you older brother.

Has fellowship with family and friends, and strangers too.

Shows love and kindness to all.

Reads God’s word and meditates on it daily, alone and with family and friends.

Tithe’s.

So now I ask you older brother, is it not God’s choice to reward your younger brother with a three-fold harvest as reward not only for him and his family asking for a blessed harvest, but also for all the other deeds and works they did to bring honor, praise and glory to our Father God?

Learn from your younger brother. God delights in you relying on him for blessings and not sinning. 

But as a believer of Christ, who you and your family accepted and acknowledged as your redeemer, he delights even more in those who not only have faith but also display good deeds and love for their fellow man.

Do this older brother and surely God will be overwhelmed with joy over your display of even greater faith and the love, kindness, and tenderness you’ll show others should you choose.

The choice is yours.”

And with that the angel was gone!

The younger brother and stranger were astonished not only by the older brother’s story, but also by his new-found strength and conviction in the Lord.

He was indeed a changed man!

Next was the strangers turn.

He went on to tell the brothers this:

“My dad and his forefathers before him were all lazy drunkards but their wives were all believers, including my mother. I grew-up seeing the ruin drunkards bring upon their families and decided I would never drink.

When old enough, I moved from my place of birth, finding refuge from my past in a city five days away from my place birth.

While there I met and fell in love with my current wife. We had three children, a son and two daughters. One day my only son fell ill and two days later he passed.

And I cursed God, Jesus, and all the angels in heaven.

My life then became one of drunkenness and laziness. I cared not for my wife or two lovely daughters, nor how they would eat or clothe themselves.

This went on for a year before my wife had enough. She demanded I leave and told me 

I could return after six months provided I was no longer a drunkard.

I journeyed to my mothers, a kind gentle women of God, and she nursed be back to health mentally, and physically. But, I refused to address my spiritual needs.

On my way back I didn’t pack enough food or water for the journey, hence how I came upon older brother, who refused my food and rest for the night.

And while I was disappointed, I did learn a lesson. To never treat a stranger the way you treated me that day.

However, my disappointment faded when I came to know younger brother and his family. For you see, while becoming clean again at my mother’s I decided to not only give-up spirits but to do all I could to becoming a better husband, a better dad, a better friend, and a better person in my community.

Younger brother, the love you and your family have for God, each other, and your fellow man, in addition to the strength and depths of your faith, your commitment, and your convictions changed me more in the short time I was with you than anything ever before in my life.

Right then and there I made-up my mind to become a man of God and a believer in Christ.

Since that day my family and I have all changed our ways and now are so blessed that we’re able to be examples to others while helping our community in ways we never imagined.

That day in your fields changed our lives!”

With that, all three, the older brother, the younger brother, and the stranger, gave thanks and praise to God.