A Parable
A certain farmer went out to farm. He was the proud owner of two mules, not beautiful, not sought after by artists for paintings, just two hard-working mules. A team—they seemed to have a sense of each other’s weaknesses and strengths and made allowances for same.
Day after day the mules went to the fields with the farmer. They labored long in the heat of the sun moving stumps, tilling ground, helping to sow seed, plowing out weeds, and hauling in the harvest.
Thanks to the hard work of the two good mules, winter would come with the barn full of hay, bins full of grain, and with many canned and stored vegetables. The farmer’s family could face long bitter months of cold with plenty to eat. And, thanks to the two good mules, the chickens had food, the pigs had food, the cows had food, and all the animals on the farm were blessed.
One day the farmer went to town. He saw a beautiful horse. With shiny slender legs and head held high, the horse pranced back and forth tossing its head and signaling its pride. An artist was nearby painting the horse.
Because the two good mules had worked so hard the farmer had saved some money. He asked the owner of the horse what work could the horse do.
”Work,” exclaimed the indignant owner, “This horse does not work. It is a racehorse that competes a few times each year!”
Taken with the beauty of the racehorse and forgetting all about the two mules, the farmer bought the racehorse and rode all the way home. Never had he had such a thrill. After preparing a special stall for the horse, much better than where the mules were kept, the farmer lingered, admiring the horse until he was quite late for dinner.
In the following days the farmer often came in early from the fields so he could spend time with the racehorse. Sometimes he would forget to brush the mules, but every night he brushed the racehorse.
A few times he entered the racehorse in contests—even won a little money. Not enough to even feed the racehorse, but it fed his ego. He talked about the Kentucky Derby, with his eyes speaking hope. Other farmers just listened out of respect.
Crops did not come in too well. There was not enough food. First the pigs were sold…then the chickens…then the cows.
Times were getting hard. A big race was coming up. If his horse won, the farmer could pay his past due farm mortgage. But he needed several hundred dollars to pay registration fees. He sold the mules. He lost the race.
A huge crowd came to the auction. Folks naturally hoped to get a good buy as furniture, farm equipment, and the house and land were sold. The farmer and his wife and children loaded up with clothes and a few other items and headed for the city---broke both financially and in hope.
As they drove through the countryside they saw the two mules in another field toiling as a farmer walked faithfully behind them.
Prayerfully,
Pastor Bare
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Galatians 6:9