Three hungry cockroaches came to a farmer and asked him for food. He willingly offered them some bread and some cheese. They ate to satisfaction and saved food to take home to their families.
Upon leaving, the farmer told them,
“Listen roaches, instead of begging for food as you always do, why don’t I offer you a job in my farm? We offer good pay, food, and protection for your families.”
The cockroaches asked,
“What work do we have to do, and how much salary do we get?”
The farmer answered,
“There are four positions available in my farm, with each having a different pay. It’s up to you to choose which of them you prefer! The worker whose job is to inform my chickens that food is ready gets paid $3,000 every month. The worker whose job is to peel and slice my garlic gets $5,000 monthly. The worker whose job is to chase pesky lizards out of the farm gets $4,000 every month. And lastly, the worker whose job is to sing and dance for my goats gets only $250 monthly. You can make your choice now!”
The first cockroach exclaimed,
“I choose the $5,000 job! I want to peel and slice your garlic!”
The second cockroach chorused,
“I want the $4,000 job! Let me chase the pesky lizards out of the farm!
The third cockroach thought for a long moment, then said surprisingly,
“I would prefer the $250 job! I want to sing and dance for your goats!”
For a moment, the two other cockroaches glared at her and thought she was very dumb.
“How could she have chosen the lowest paying job in the farm? Is she that silly and unreasonable?” they thought within themselves.
The following morning, the three cockroaches arrived for their first day of work. However, as they began their duties, the first and the second cockroaches died all of a sudden.
The curious farmer then called the third cockroach and asked,
“Tell me, why did you choose the lowest paying job?”
She took a deep breath and answered,
“Firstly, chickens favourite food is cockroaches- why would I choose a job where I have to go close to chickens? Secondly, the pungent smell of garlic can quickly kill a cockroach- why would I choose a job where I have to peel and slice garlic? Thirdly, lizards love to snack and prey on cockroaches- why would I choose a job where I have to chase lizards out of the farm? It’s not about the money at all, it’s about putting my life into consideration.”
Lesson to Learn:
My beautiful Tewahedo Orthodox sister, be careful and discerning in all things. Not every offer is from the Lord, and not all gain is godly. Do not be swift to accept every deal placed before you, for many are snares clothed in gold. Seek wisdom through prayer, for the Lord gives understanding to those who ask with a humble heart. Listen to the counsel of your spiritual father and the Holy Scriptures. Do not let your heart be carried away by the glitter of wealth or the empty promises of this world, for these things pass away.
Let your steps be guided by the fear of God and the love of His commandments. Keep your eyes fixed on the Kingdom of Heaven, which is the true reward of the faithful. For as our Lord said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”(Matthew 6:21, NKJV).”
The simple believes every word, but the prudent considers well his steps.
– Proverbs 14:15
Tewahedo Orthodox Girl 