The Parable of the Unjust Judge and the Persistent Widow
Jesus told his followers many stories so they would learn the best way to serve God and love the people around them. Many of his stories tell us how important it is to pray. One such story is the Parable of the Persistent Widow. This is the version I shared in the Children's Chapel at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in Keller, Texas.
Once there was a crooked judge.
And I mean, he was a bad, mean crooked judge.
He didn’t make fair decisions.
He didn’t care about other people.
He liked to please powerful people and people with money.
All day long, every day, people would come to him and ask for help.
Sometimes poor people would come to him, and they would say this:
"Please, Mr. Judge, can you help me?"
And he would say
"Do you have money for me?"
"No."
"Are you powerful? Can you make me look good?"
"No."
"Then go away! I have nothing for you!"
But if the town leaders and rich men came to talk to him, they might say this:
"Please Mr. Judge, can you help me?"
And he would say
"Do you have money for me?"
"Yes, here’s some money!"
"Are you powerful? Can you make me look good?"
"Yes!"
"Request granted! The court finds in your favor!"
This went on, day after day. Then, there came a widow.
"Please, Mr. Judge, can you help me?"
"Do you have money for me?"
"No."
"Are you powerful? Can you make me look good?"
"No."
"Then go away! I have nothing for you!"
So the widow went away. But the next day, she was back.
"Please, Mr. Judge, can you help me?"
"Didn’t I see you yesterday? Do you have money for me now?"
"No."
"Did you get a powerful friend? Can you make me look good?"
"No."
"Then go away! I have nothing for you!"
So the widow went away. But the next day, she was back.
"Please, Mr. Judge, can you help me?"
"NO!"
So the widow went away. But the next day, she was back.
Again. And again. And again. And again.
"Please, Mr. Judge, can you help me?"
"You don’t have any money! You don’t have any power! Get off my back!
Go away! Go away! Go away! Oh, my goodness, she’s still here!
OKAY! Look! If I give you what you want, will you PLEASE leave me alone? "
"Yes!"
And do you know what he did? He took care of her case. He got her what she needed, and she left him alone. She was persistent, and she kept asking.
Now, God isn’t quite like this bad judge. He’s wise and fair and he knows what is best for us. He also knows what is best for everybody else. But he wants you to do something for him. He wants you to ask for the things you really need. He’s not a vending machine and he won’t always get you what you think you want most, but sometimes he gives you something you need instead. If you ask for candy, you may get a special treat, or you may get the wisdom to know that candy isn’t good for you. But he wants you to know that he is always listening and he hears you when you pray. Pray when you are thankful. Pray when you are lonely or afraid. Pray for those you love. Pray for people who have problems we don't even understand. Just remember that God wants to hear from you.
Here also is the craft we made to go along with this sermon.
I gave each of them seven hands cut from construction paper. I had each child staple them together in a book. On the first set of hands today we wrote: Today I pray for…
Then I asked them to write what they were praying for, or draw a picture of it. Then I invited them to do it again each day that week. It became their new prayer journal so they could share their conversations with God.
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