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 The Farmer and the BankerIn his book, Healing Grace, David Seamands tells the story of a farmer who had experienced several bad years on his farm. Finally, the farmer went into town to see the manager of his bank."I've got some good news and some bad news to tell you," the farmer began. "Which would you like to hear first?" |
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"Why don't you give me the bad news first and get it over with," the banker replied. "Okay. With the bad drought we've experienced and the inflation in farm prices that's resulted, I won't be able to pay anything on my mortgage this year--nothing on the principle, nothing on the interest." "Well, that is pretty bad," the banker grimaced. "Oh, it gets worse," the farmer replied. "I also won't be able to pay anything on the loan I got from you for the machinery I bought--nothing on the principle, nothing on the interest."
"Oh," the farmer replied, "it's even worse than that. You remember I also borrowed from you to buy seeds and fertilizer and other supplies. Well, I can't pay anything on that loan either--principle or interest." "That's awful!" the banker exclaimed. "Enough of the bad news. Tell me what the good news is!" To which the farmer replied with a smile, "The good news is that I intend to keep on doing business with you!" Then Seamands makes his point: In the midst of the bad news of
our fallen and messed up world, in which we've all had a part, "the good
news is . . . that in spite of our total moral bankruptcy, God keeps
on doing business with us."
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"Wow, that is bad news!" the banker groaned.