Lesson learned from The Greedy Sons
Jesuit priest and psychotherapist Anthony de Mello tells us this story
“The Greedy Sons.”
There was once a hard-working and generous farmer with several idle and greedy sons. On his deathbed, he said they would find his treasure if they dug in a certain field. As soon as he died, they hurried to the fields. They dug them up from one end to another with increasing desperation and concentration when they did not find the gold there.
Realizing their generous father must have given his gold away during his lifetime, they abandoned their search. They finally decided since the land had been prepared, they might as well sow a crop. They planted wheat, which produced an abundant yield. They sold this crop and prospered that year.
After the harvest was in, they thought again about the slim possibility they might have missed the buried gold. They again dug up the fields, with the same result. After several years they became accustomed to labor and the cycle of the seasons, something they had not understood before.
Now they realized the reason for their father’s method of training them, and they became honest and contented farmers. Ultimately, they possessed sufficient wealth and no longer wondered about the hidden hoard.
Greedy sons learn to be content. Idle sons learn to be productive. Immediate gratification gives way to sustained investment in the land. The gold they initially sought is revealed to be golden grain.
A wise father fools his sons to make them better men. They become oriented to a specific place and certain time within the cycle of seasons.
2025 beckons us with 365 treasures hidden in a field.
- With whom are you digging, planting, and harvesting?
- How will you invest in this community and the year ahead?
- How does sufficiency create contentment?
Rev. Dr. Sybrant serves at Murray Hills Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). For more info, visit us at 15050 SW Weir Road, Beaverton. www.murrayhills.org | 503-524-5230
