NEEDFUL THINGS

by KATHIE WILLIAMSON
(Hartwell, Ga)

LUKE 12:15 - "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."
ECCLESIASTES 5:15 - And he shall take nothing from his labor which he may carry in his hand.
PSALM 119:37 - Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things and incline my heart not unto covetousness.
I TIMOTHY 6:9 - But those who desire to be rich fall into a snare, and into many foolish harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
PSALM 39:6 - He heaps up riches and does not know who will gather them.
JOB 20:28 - And his goods will flow away in the day of His wrath.

NEEDFUL THINGS

There was once a man, I understand, who lived his life each day
Collecting needful things in life as he went along his way
He awoke each morning and before the day began
Started thinking of the treasures he could find to fill his hands

Each day brought new opportunity to accumulate more stuff
But it seemed as though his hands could never hold quite enough!
He filled his hands with houses, he filled his hands with cars
He filled his hands with fancy clothes and even fine cigars!

He filled his hands with everything that could be bought or sold
He filled his hands with everything that they could possibly hold
And then one day as he was walking along content with all his things
The dark clouds of a storm appeared and it began to rain

Softly at first it began to fall, barely making a sound
And as he ignored its gentle drops, the harder it came down
He looked around for shelter, a place to duck inside
A haven from the storm to which he could run and hide

His eyes fell on the cross of an old church up ahead
"If I can but make it there I will be safe" he said
But now came his dilemma, for on this he had not planned
As the door could not be opened for all the things held in his hands

"Oh well," said he to himself "I'll weather out this storm
and I'll soon be safe in my nice home, comfortable and warm"
But the rain fell even harder and the land began to flood
It seemed as if a dam had burst within the heavens above!

The water rose up to his knees and then up to his chin
Frantically he looked about for he knew not how to swim!
Then upon the rising waters he saw a strange wonder
A man walking on the water, instead of going under!

Within his hand he held a rope which he threw the poor man's way
"Empty your hands and take the rope" he heard the stranger say
"But I cannot do that sir for these are needful things" he said
And the waters rose up higher, now covering his head

Now underneath the water still clutching to his things
He saw a nail-scarred hand reach out and heard someone call his name
He started to reach out but found he simply could not let go
And with the last breath that he took came forth the answer, "No."

And as the foolish man took his last breath that day
He watched his hands fall open and all his things just float away
They floated into the possession of other people's hands
Never to be held by the foolish man again.

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