The Prince and the Pauper's Pantry

Once there was a wealthy prince
Who came to a pauper's shack,
To look into the cupboards
To see what was in lack.

That the lack might be supplied
At personal expense,
And the time and trouble of
This benevolent prince.

The prince provided lavishly,
From his own wealthy store,
But only for the daily need,
And never any more.

So, daily the pauper would wait.
He came to full depend
Upon the faithful coming of
His charitable friend.

One day, the pauper asked the prince,
"Why go to daily trouble?
If you would provide for me,
Then why not give me double

So that, tomorrow, you could rest,
And have a whole day free
From having to come to my house
To be concerned with me?"

The prince replied, "No trouble, friend!
I love to give to you!
But, to stay away all day?
This, I will never do!

And not to be concerned with you?
Come! I will do no such!
Because, my friend, I love you so,
And I'd miss you too much!"

And so it is, friends, with our Lord.
He gives us daily bread
That each day we may wait on Him
To have our spirits fed.

He knows the kind of help we'll need
For what we'll have to face,
And day to day He will supply
Us lavishly with grace.

He will give our day's supply,
And He will give no more,
That we might trust that He will come,
As He has done before.

That daily we will look to Him,
And trust His faithfulness,
And know that He will be with us
To comfort and to bless.

And by His daily coming,
We will come to full depend
Upon the faithful goodness of
The God Who is our Friend.

June 17, 2014