According to legend, there was once an abbey which had a very generous abbot. No beggar was ever turned away and he gave all he could to the needy. The strange thing was that the more he gave away the richer the abbey seemed to become. When the old abbot died, he was replaced by a new one with exactly the opposite nature-he was mean and grumpy. One day an elderly man arrived at the abbey saying that he had stayed there years before, and was seeking shelter again. The abbot was busily engaged elsewhere so the door-keeper took pity on the visitor and found a room for him. He apologised for the poor hospitality they could offer saying, "Our abbey cannot provide for strangers like it use to when we were wealthy. No-one seems to make gifts towards our work nowadays."
"Ah well," said the visitor, "I think that is because you banished two brothers from the abbey."
"I don't think we ever did that," said the puzzeled door-keeper.
"Oh yes," was the reply. "They were twins. One was called Give and the other was called It shall be given unto you. You banished give, so his brother decided to go as well."
"Ah well," said the visitor, "I think that is because you banished two brothers from the abbey."
"I don't think we ever did that," said the puzzeled door-keeper.
"Oh yes," was the reply. "They were twins. One was called Give and the other was called It shall be given unto you. You banished give, so his brother decided to go as well."
SEE PROVERBS 11; 24
