There was once a little boy who went to McDonald's with his older brother. He must have been wondering why his older brother had brought him to McDonald's without buying anything. His older brother pointed out 2 seats over at a corner where the both of them plonked themselves on.


His older brother took out 3 one dollar coins, and a five dollar note, and laid it out on the table for his younger brother to see. He said, "I am giving you this money. So how much would you give to God?" Without hesitation, the little boy pushed all the money away from him, and smiled, suggesting that he was willing to give all that he had to God.


Then the two of them made their way out of McDonald's and strolled towards NTUC.


As the both of them stepped into the 24-hour supermarket, rows of shelves that were filled with arrays of delicious chocolates, biscuits, and other foodstuff greeted them with a warm welcome.


At that moment, the older brother passed the little boy the eight dollars and said, "Okay, now take ALL the money in your hands and hold it tight alright? You have eight dollars in your hands and do you know that you can buy ANYTHING you want, ANY type of biscuit or chocolate or sweet here?" Pointing at each item, he explained further that the eight dollars is a lot of money and it could get him almost anything, even the ice-cream in the freezer compartment, if that was what he would choose to buy.


"All? This one also?"


"Yes, EVERYTHING."


There was a big smile on the little boy's face as he was delighted to know that the eight dollars could give him so many choices. He was as happy as a lark!


The both of them passed by even more food and drinks too as they walked down a different isle.


Upon walking down the isle with the shelves that had the various delicious chocolates on display, something caught the little boy's attention.


Well, actually it was something on the OPPOSITE shelf though...


It was a toy! A colourful one!


"I want this thing...", was what the little boy voiced to his older brother.


"So you've decided to get this toy?"


The little boy nodded his head, with a smile still on his face.



"Hmmm... Then what was it when you said that you would give ALL the money to God earlier on at McDonald's? Have you forgotten about it already?", asked the big brother with an all-knowing smile that his younger brother would fall for his ploy.


"Har... But I want that thing..." whined the little boy, though with a smile because he knew that at that very moment, he had gone back on his word.


"Do you understand the story now? You are like the rich man now. The money you have in your hands can give you what you want. Remember God asked the rich man to sell all he has and give it to the poor and then follow Him?"


"Uh huh..."


"But the rich man was reluctant to give everything away because he could use his money to buy what he wanted, like you right now. Do you get what I mean? So do you still want to buy the toy with this money?"


There was deep thought and a bit of a struggle in the little boy, as expressed through his eyes...


But after a while...


"Okay... I don't want to buy already."


"But why don't you want to buy? Do you know what happened to the rich man in the Bible?"


"Dunno...?"


"The rich man walked away upon hearing that he had to give up everything he had you know?"


-thinking-


"I give everything lah.."


"Why do you want to give your money to God?"


"Because I want to give lor.."


"Do you know that God doesn't need your money actually?"


The little boy, with eyes that were surprised, yet curious, looked intently at his older brother...




"All he wants from you,








is your heart."