Sparse Mansion Skit

Here's the skit we used this morning. The sermon was called Your Spiritual Bank Account from Philippians 4:17.

ANGEL is checking HUMAN into his/her new heavenly abode.

ANGEL: Well, here you are! Your brand new mansion. We're so glad to have you here in Heaven. Have a happy eternity! [starts to leave]

HUMAN: Wait! I, uh, this is great and all, but it's, ah, a little, um, sparse, isn't it?

ANGEL: Well, it's certainly not the least sparse mansion on the block. Take care! [starts to leave]

HUMAN: Wait!...I don't understand. Why is my new home so empty? A few sticks of furniture? That's all I get in heaven?

ANGEL: Well, you see, we unpacked everything you sent ahead. Perhaps if you rearranged those two chairs and that table a bit it would look like more...

HUMAN: Sent ahead? What are you talking about?

ANGEL: [to self] If I had a gold paving stone for everytime I've had this conversation. [to HUMAN] [sighs] You know that Bible passage that says “Don’t collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal?”

HUMAN: I think I heard that before...

ANGEL: You think you heard that before?! You heard [flips through pages on clipboard] 32 sermons, 8 Sunday School lessons, 2 camp devotionals, and one skit with an angel on those verses!

HUMAN: Oh, yeah...

ANGEL: But you never changed your life in response to these verses. You lived your whole life building up your supply of gadgets and vacation souveneirs. You filled your home on earth with plenty of stuff, but you barely sent anything ahead for this one!

HUMAN: What about all the ways I served in the church?

ANGEL: [flipping through pages again] Finance committee, had to be chairman. Choir, always wanted the solo. Yard work, insisted on mowing the patch along the busiest roadway. Face it. You never did anything unless you made sure you would get attention and a pat on the back. Well, that was your reward. You get squat for that kind of attitude here.

HUMAN: What about my prayer life? I spent a lot of time on my knees! And even fasted sometimes—I bet most of the other people in my church never did that!

ANGEL: Well, sadly, that's true. But you made such a big deal of letting everybody know about your fasting, you completely destroyed its spiritual value. It became a way for you to show off what a great Christian you thought you were.

HUMAN: But—but--don't I get anything?

ANGEL: Well, you're here—that's way better than nothing, right?

CHILD [walks up, not part of "scene," reads] First Corinthians 3:12-15. If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one’s work will become obvious, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, it will be lost, but he will be saved; yet it will be like an escape through fire.

ANGEL: [sniffing] Do you smell smoke?

Blogged with the Flock Browser