A Dervish (a Sufi wise man, devoted to God) was praying silently. A
wealthy merchant, observing the dervish's devotion and sincerity, was
deeply touched by him. The merchant offered the dervish a bag of
gold. "I know that you will uses the money for God's sake. Please take it".
"Just a moment", - the dervish replied. "I'm not sure if it is lawful
for me to take your money. Are you a wealthy man? Do you have more money at home?"
"Oh, yes. I have at least one thousand gold pieces at home", -claimed the merchant proudly.
"Do you want a thousand gold pieces more?" - asked the dervish.
"Why, yes, of course. Every day I work hard to earn more money".
"And do you wish for yet a thousand gold pieces more beyond that?"
"Certainly. Every day I pray that I may earn more and more money".
The dervish pushed the bag of gold back to the merchant. "I am sorry,
but I cannot take your gold", - he said. "A wealthy man cannot take money from a beggar".
"How can you call yourself a wealthy man and me a beggar?" – the merchant spluttered!
The dervish replied: "I'm a wealthy man because I am content with
whatever God sends me. You are a beggar, because no matter how much
you possess, you are always dissatisfied, and always begging God for
MORE"……
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