Lo there was once a man who strode into the green valleys where he lived seeking a worthy lord to serve. Soon, he came upon a magnificent manor house on a hill that overlooked rich farmland.
The man approached the landlord and asked if he could serve the master of such a green and verdant land. He was quickly welcomed into the land and told that if he abided by the master's laws and served him wherever he was needed then he could live there and call it his home.
The man was overjoyed, and filled with appreciation and love for his new master. He learned all his master's rules and was careful to follow them to the letter. He built a home in the land and went to work fulfilling the master's wishes. He accounted himself quite fortunate to serve such a great lord with his vast wealth, his strength, his wisdom and his abundant fields.
Then one day, his home was attacked by vicious men, who cared little for his lord. They took many things that were precious to the man. Immediately, he informed the landlord about the attack. The landlord only said that sometimes these things happen and that the master had a plan to deal with it. So, the man went home and was patient, trusting in his master.
Sometime later, the man's crops failed and his fields weren't so fertile. He became hungry and he watched his small family go hungry and suffer. So, he went to the landlord and again asked if the master could help. The landlord said that if his crops failed then perhaps the man was not faithful to his lord, and this was his punishment. But, the man knew he was faithful and began to wonder if perhaps he was not worthy to serve his lord despite his best efforts. The landlord told him to go home to endure the punishment while he waits for his master to forgive him.
The man returned home and suffered. While he listened to his hungry babies cry he studied the master's laws, all the while doubting himself. In an attempt to better understand the laws, he turned to others who lived on the master's land. He saw some people who prospered greatly and others who suffered like him. Some honored the master in unusual ways that seemed contrary to the law. Others barely followed the laws or even ignored them all together. It seemed to not matter who was faithful or not, each resident seemed to prosper or suffer in an arbitrary way.
The man approached the landlord and asked if he could serve the master of such a green and verdant land. He was quickly welcomed into the land and told that if he abided by the master's laws and served him wherever he was needed then he could live there and call it his home.
The man was overjoyed, and filled with appreciation and love for his new master. He learned all his master's rules and was careful to follow them to the letter. He built a home in the land and went to work fulfilling the master's wishes. He accounted himself quite fortunate to serve such a great lord with his vast wealth, his strength, his wisdom and his abundant fields.
Then one day, his home was attacked by vicious men, who cared little for his lord. They took many things that were precious to the man. Immediately, he informed the landlord about the attack. The landlord only said that sometimes these things happen and that the master had a plan to deal with it. So, the man went home and was patient, trusting in his master.
Sometime later, the man's crops failed and his fields weren't so fertile. He became hungry and he watched his small family go hungry and suffer. So, he went to the landlord and again asked if the master could help. The landlord said that if his crops failed then perhaps the man was not faithful to his lord, and this was his punishment. But, the man knew he was faithful and began to wonder if perhaps he was not worthy to serve his lord despite his best efforts. The landlord told him to go home to endure the punishment while he waits for his master to forgive him.
The man returned home and suffered. While he listened to his hungry babies cry he studied the master's laws, all the while doubting himself. In an attempt to better understand the laws, he turned to others who lived on the master's land. He saw some people who prospered greatly and others who suffered like him. Some honored the master in unusual ways that seemed contrary to the law. Others barely followed the laws or even ignored them all together. It seemed to not matter who was faithful or not, each resident seemed to prosper or suffer in an arbitrary way.
So the troubled man approached the landlord and asked him about this seeming contradiction. The landlord only replied that the master had plans for each person and they are rewarded or punished according to what is in their heart.
The man returned to his land and took comfort because he knew that he was faithful and honest in fulfilling whatever the master asked of him.
Then one day the evil men returned and they destroyed the man's house, killed his wife and children, and left the man beaten and broken. He thought for sure that the master's armies would ride out to protect his servant and to defeat the evil men once and for all. But they did not. They stayed away from him, and the master did not even come out to comfort his faithful servant. The man suffered and died wondering what he had done to offend his master that he had given his life in service to.
Then one day the evil men returned and they destroyed the man's house, killed his wife and children, and left the man beaten and broken. He thought for sure that the master's armies would ride out to protect his servant and to defeat the evil men once and for all. But they did not. They stayed away from him, and the master did not even come out to comfort his faithful servant. The man suffered and died wondering what he had done to offend his master that he had given his life in service to.
So, I say to you that the worst sin this land has seen, is a master who shows no love or concern over his servants. And the saddest thing that it has seen is a worthy man who serves an unworthy lord.
