An old preacher was dying. He sent a message

for his banker and his lawyer, both church members, to come to his

home.

When they arrived, they were ushered up to his
bedroom. As they entered
the room, the preacher held out his hands and
motioned for them to sit
on each side of the bed. The preacher grasped
their hands, sighed
contentedly, smiled, and stared at the ceiling.
For a time, no one said
anything.

Both the banker and lawyer
were touched and flattered that the preacher
would ask them to be
with him during his final moments. They were also
puzzled; the
preacher had never given them any indication that he
particularly liked
either of them. They both remembered his many long,
uncomfortable
sermons about greed, covetousness, and avaricious behaviour
that
made them squirm in their seats.

Finally, the banker said,
“Preacher, why did you ask us to come?”

The old preacher mustere
d up his strength and then said weakly, “Jesus
died between two
thieves, and that’s how I want to go.”