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Have you ever felt greedy? I mean, have you ever wanted to order three hamburgers before you ever ate one? Did you ever wish that you could win every game that you played or that you could own every pretty dress? If you have ever felt that way, then there has been a time in life when you were greedy. I suppose you know that most people think pigs are greedy, don't you? Well, I have a story about a pig who wasn't greedy, as a matter of fact, my friend, Ebeneezer the Pig, thinks that people are greedy, not pigs.

One day, a long time ago, Ebeneezer was out in his field minding his own business when he heard a lot of chatter from the other pigs. If you have ever heard pigs talk, you know what I mean. You just can't ignore pigs when they talk. They root, and squawk, snort and oink, whether they are happy or sad, hungry or well-fed. Well, Ebeneezer said to himself rather quietly, "I wonder what all of my friends are talking about. The sun is out, the wind is quiet, there is plenty of food to eat and water to drink, I wonder what is causing the disturbance." Then he noticed that there was a new man in charge of the feeding. "What a sad man," he thought to himself. Why should anyone be so sad? Ebeneezer worked his way over to the man with the big bag of pods that he gave to any pig that got close. Ebeneezer had already eaten well and didn't really want anything more, but he did want to hear what the man was saying to himself, so he kept moving closer and closer. Ebeneezer wished that the other pigs would quiet down a little bit so that he could hear better. What a sad face for such a young man. He sure didn't look like the other men who brought out the pods for the pigs to eat. Ebenezeer got very close and then he listened. The sad young man said, "Why should I be feeding pigs when my father is one of the richest men in the whole world. I would be happier if I could live like one of his servants than I am now." "Perhaps he would," thought Ebeneezer, "after all he certainly isn't doing a very good job of feeding us. But I hate to see him so unhappy." Later Ebeneezer found out that this young man had asked his father for his share of the family's riches so that he could go on his own. What a time he had for a very short while. He ate and drank and bought all sorts of rich clothes and spent everything that he had. He didn't sit and talk or listen to anybody. He just wanted to have fun. Pretty soon they told Ebeneezer he had spent all of his money and he was a long way from home. Besides, the sad young man thought that no one at his home would ever welcome him back.

"It's funny," Ebeneezer thought, "what makes a man or a pig happy. A few people and a few pigs think that the only thing that makes you happy is more of whatever you have. More money, more clothes, more food, more rooms, more yard, more people, more, more, and more. But it's not true, no sir, it's not true."

Happiness comes from being satisfied with what you have. If you are a pig, then you can be happy with a fine barnyard, some pods to eat and your neighbor and friend pigs beside you. Ebeneezer didn't know exactly what made a young man or young woman happy but he sure did know that it wasn't money, jewels, and fine clothes.

"Now if I could just walk right up there and tell him what I have learned listening to him, I could make him happy. I would tell him to go back to his father's house and ask his forgiveness and be willing to obey him from now on no matter what he said. Happiness is belonging to your own people and land and sharing with them everything that you have and not keeping anything just for yourself."

Well, do you know what? I think that young man heard Ebeneezer, for all of a sudden a smile came over his face and he began to run in the direction of his father's house. It took a long time to get there for he had to go to another country, but when he did was lie glad. As he came up the road he saw his father come out of the house, running with his arms out wide and a big smile on his face. When they came together there was a loud cry of joy and celebration as you have never heard before. Why it was so loud that Ebeneezer thought he heard it all the way back in the barnyard of the other country.

Ebeneezer often wished he could meet the young man who fed him pods that one day in his barnyard but he thought that he might not recognize him even if he did. He knew that his face would be so happy and his smile so bright because he now knew where happiness really was that he probably wouldn't even look the same.

I suppose you know, boys and girls, that this was a favorite story of Jesus. He used to tell it to people who wanted to be greedy or who didn't think that God could forgive a man who had done something wrong. Jesus said that even when a greedy man changed his way and went back to God that God not only forgave him but that He came and met him and welcomed him back with love and concern.

I hope you will remember the day that Ebeneezer the satisfied pig helped a greedy young man find his way home. just like you will remember how many times men, women, boys, and girls who make bad mistakes can be forgiven and welcomed back by their heavenly Father.