Short Story

The Mogul King - an excerpt from Abiding Stories by Michael Wells


I Cor 3:21-23 So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.

In Him I will find everything that I looked for elsewhere in vain. There was a great Mogul King, a very different sort of king. He had been blessed by the loyalty and hard work of his people and was thinking how he might bless them. The king made the decision to take his most favored possessions and place them in the courtyard. He called all the people there and made a proclamation.

"Look around you and whatever catches your eye, go, put your arms around it, and it will be given to you!" The people were very surprised, for the king had placed in the courtyard carriages, vases, one hundred of his best horses, rugs, silver candlesticks, and more. Immediately they each began to put their arms around an object they wanted to take.

The poorest boy in the kingdom stood watching the people and the king. Respectfully, fearfully, the boy approached the king with a question. "Is it true that whatever catches my eye in the courtyard can be mine?" The king answered, "Yes, it is true!" The boy hesitated and spoke again, "Do not be angry with me, but has Your Majesty thought about his offer?" The king said, "Look at the people and see for yourself. Whatever they see and desire in the courtyard is theirs once they put their arms around it. Go and do the same!"

At that, the boy stepped forward and wrapped his arms around the king's legs. The king was surprised and then smiled, "Now that you have me, all that I have is yours!"

I am convinced of this, that in Him we will find everything that we have looked for in other places in vain.