The Invitation Parable

A woman came out of her house and saw 3 old men with long white beards sitting in front of her house. She did not recognize them. She said "I don't think I know you, but you look hungry... Please come in and have something to eat."

"Is the man of the house home?", they asked. "No," she said. "He's out." "Then we cannot come in," they replied.

In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened. He said, "Go tell them I am home and invite them in."

The woman went out and invited the men to come in. "We rarely go into a house together," they replied.

One of the old men explained: My name is "Love," his name is "Wealth" (pointing to one man), and his name is "Success" (pointing to the other man). Then he added, "Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home."

The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. "How wonderful," he said!... "Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth... Let him come in and fill our home with wealth."

His wife disagreed... "My dear, why don't we invite Success"?...

Their daughter was listening from the other side of the room... She jumped in with her own suggestion: "Would it not be better to invite Love?... Our home will then be filled with love."

"Let us heed our daughters advice," said the husband to his wife... "Go out and invite Love to be our guest."

The woman went out and asked Love to please come into their house and be our guest." Love got up and started walking toward the house... The other 2 men also got up and followed him.

Surprised, the lady said: "I only invited Love... Why are Wealth and Success coming in too?"

The old men replied together: "If you had invited Wealth or Success the other two of us would have stayed outside... but since you invited Love, wherever he goes we usually go with him.

Always remember, Love first... if you want Wealth and Success to follow!

Who have you invited into your home?

[ Author Unknown -- from Denial -- Ed: Anon. ]