1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”;

There’s a great folk hero in the Islamic world called Mullah Nasrudin. When I was at seminary, I used to love reading his stories and relating them to my peers.

In one of the tales, Nasrudin operates a ferry across the Euphrates River. One day, some academics get into his boat and as he pulls the oars, they talk to him.

“Nasrudin, I am a great teacher of mathematics,” says the first. “Have you ever studied numbers and equations?”

“No, sir,” says Nasrudin.

“Then you’ve wasted half of your life,” says the great teacher.

The second academic speaks to Nasrudin. “I am a professor of literature. Have you ever read any classic works?”

“No, sir,” answers Nasrudin.

“Then you’ve wasted half of your life,” says the professor.

All of a sudden, a storm erupts and the river begins to swell. The boat capsizes, and Nasrudin shouts at the academics, ” Can you swim?”

“No,” they answer. “We never learned how to swim.”

“Then I’m afraid gentlemen,” replies Nasrudin, as he swims to the shore, “You’ve wasted all of your lives.”

Lots of people, by their own decisions and in their own wisdom, choose not to follow Jesus. They believe that to do so is foolishness and a waste of their time. Unfortunately, by the time they realize their mistake, they will have already crossed the Jordan River and will be unable to get into God’s Eternal Kingdom. Despite their worldly wisdom, they will have wasted all of their lives.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to do what we can to bring our loved ones closer to You, so that their lives will not be wasted and their souls will not be cast aside. Give us the courage to be strong in faith, compassionate of heart, and loving in our beliefs. In Your Holy name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart traqair@aol.com
Knoxville, Tennessee, USA