Parable of the King & his wives

Cont'd from page 3

He also loved his 2nd wife. She was his confidante and was always kind, considerate and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in her, and she did her best to help him get through life. 

The King’s 1st wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his health and happiness. However, he did not really love the first wife. 

One day, the King fell ill, and he knew his time was short. He thought of his luxurious life and wondered, “I now have four wives with me, but when I die, I’ll be all alone.” Thus, he asked the 4th wife, “I have loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?” 

“No way!”, replied the 4th wife. And she walked away without another word. Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart. 

The sad King then asked the 3rd wife, “I have loved you all my life. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?”

“No!”, replied the 3rd wife. “Life is good! When you die, I’m going to remarry.” His heart sank. 

He then asked the 2nd wife, “I have always turned to you for help and you’ve always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?” 

“I’m sorry, I can’t help you out this time.”, replied the 2nd wife. ”At the very most, I can only send you to your grave.” The king was at a loss for words.

Then a voice called out: “I’ll leave with you and follow you no matter where you go.” The King looked up, and there was his first wife. She was so skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, the King said, “I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!” 

The analogy of the 4 wives in our lives is: 

The 4th wife is our body. No matter how much effort we lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when we die. 

The 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others. 

The 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they love us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave. 

 And our 1st wife is our soul. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world. However, our soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go. 

Strengthen and nourish it now through devotion to God alone. For the soul is the only part of us that goes beyond this world to the Day of Judgment and through Eternity. 

[18:45] Cite for them the example of this life as water that we send down from the sky to produce plants of the earth, then they turn into hay that is blown away by the wind. GOD is able to do all things. 

Rearranging Our Priorities 

[18:46] Money and children are the joys of this life, but the righteous works provide an eternal recompense from your Lord, and a far better hope. 

[2:281] Beware of the day when you are returned to GOD, and every soul is paid for everything it had done, without the least injustice. 

[29:7] Those who believe and lead a righteous life, we will certainly remit their sins, and will certainly reward them generously for their righteous works. 

May God guide and forgive us and help us work hard to grow our souls. 

Author Unknown (Internet adaptation)