Many of us are familiar with the story, The Little Red Hen.
A little red hen found a grain of wheat, and asks her friends, "Who will help me plant this wheat?" "Not I," said the cat, the pig, and the dog, each in turn. "Then I will," says the little red hen.
After the wheat grows tall and ripe, she asks, "Who will me reap this wheat?" Again, they responded: " Not I," said the cat, the pig, and the dog, each in turn "Then I will," says the little red hen.
After reaping the wheat, the little red hen asks, "Who will help me thresh this wheat?" Again, they responded: "Not I," said the cat, the pig, and the dog, each in turn "Then I will," says the little red hen.
"Who will help me take this wheat to the mill to have it ground?" she asks next. Again, she hears, "Not I," said the cat, the pig, and the dog, each in turn "Then I will," says the little red hen.
"Who will help me bake this flour?" asks the little red hen. "Not I," said the cat, the pig, and the dog, each in turn "Then I will," says the little red hen. So, she bakes the flour and makes a beautiful loaf of bread.
Finally, the little red hen asks, "Who will help me eat this bread?" "I will," says the cat. "I will," says the pig. "I will," says the dog.
But the little red hen responds, "I will," and she eats up the loaf of bread.
The challenge of this children’s story is very clear: While no one wanted to participate in the BURDEN of assisting the little red hen in planting the grain, reaping the wheat, threshing the wheat, milling wheat and baking the flour to make the bread, everyone wanted to participate in the BLESSING of assisting the little red hen in eating the bread.
Although this is a children’s story, the truths of this story are very real and relevant for today. While everyone is sharing in the BLESSING of utilizing our church campus, this beautiful sanctuary, and all of the spiritual benefits including the preaching, teaching and prayers, many are not sharing in the BURDEN of the financial and physical support of the church campus, this beautiful sanctuary, and all of the spiritual benefits including the preaching, teaching and prayers
This is not only wrong in a children’s story, it is wrong in the Kingdom of God. In Galatians 6:4, 5, Paul challenges, 4 All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor’s work, will become a cause for pride. 5 For all must carry their own loads (NRSV). Indeed, each one of us must carry our own load. There is an African Proverb that says, “Many hands make the load light.”
Unlike the conclusion of The Little Red Hen, I am not suggesting that those who have not shared in the burden not share in the blessing. I am encouraging those who have not yet shared in the burden to, please, share in the burden and be a blessing to your God, your church and your community. I am encouraging you to say, “I will. I will give. I will support. I will participate. I will be a part of what God is doing in my church. I will.”
