“Penny Wise And Pound Foolish” (Sun Tzu 13:1a) (John 3:16-21; 14:15-21; 10:02; Eph 4:26; Mt.3:03; 5:25-26; 7:03; 10:16; Lk.13:32; Isaiah 40:27; 1 Sam. 19:1-18; Judges 7:8-16; Ps. 27:11; 105:12
War costs a lot of cash and kind
What e’er its scope and scale, so mind
That you don’t skimp on bargain fare
And miss the chance of being there –Upon the victor’s podium –
You’ll miss that chance if, when you run
Your budget, you are penny wise,
But Pound expense eludes your eyes.Way back in Sun Tzu’s day of war,
The costs of arms the people bore:
One thousand ounces of pure gold
Per day it took to army hold –Out on the field to fight, and this
Was for one hundred K – don’t miss
The other costs, like transport drays
To drag supplies so many days.And then there’s costs behind the scenes
Where farming people lack the means
To carry on – seven hundred K
Were out of work so had no pay.For years two enemies dance ’round
Until their opening is found
On which to beat in one swift stroke
The other, now exhausted bloke.So when one adds expenses up
(Times two – the other side’s as tough),
On spies do not economize;
Expenses here? Best viewed as wise.So honors, ranks, emoluments,
Are cheapest quality expense
One can put out for info new,
So he can know best what to do.If action is not taken here,
He is no leader, that is clear,
Nor helper to the ruling king,
Nor does he help to victory bring.But most of all, Sun Tzu points out,
He’s inhumane, without a doubt;
Prevent or shorten war, he says,
It’s always best – and always pays.“If off to court, then make a friend”;
“If anger seethes, bring it to end”,
Christ said, “And be as wise as wise can be,
Just like that serpent in the tree.“But I will send My Spirit forth
To show the way, as true as North
For you to live, and think, and walk,
The things to say each time you talk.”Some friends told Christ, “Get out of here –
King Herod wants you – disappear”
“Okay, I’ll go, ’till work is done,
And then I’ll put him on the run”.Once things are known, how we react
We still decide – it’s more than fact;
But with the Spirit as our guide
We now can do much more than hide.navigation