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 Majestic
pines and other forest giants tower above the old man’s mobile
home. Beauty and serenity are in abundance but there are no
frills. He is a quiet and simple man, yet a twinkle in his eye
and a quick smile shows his love of people.
He
plans everything. For instance, each month he divides his social
security benefits — his sole income — in two parts. $40 is
put aside while the remaining $100 is placed in an envelope —
each sum carefully considered.
The
old man meets with saints at a little country church building.
One brother arrives in a new sports car. All gather to admire
its sleek lines are awed by the full complement of equipment.
Yet the atmosphere is obviously strained. This brother recently
contested the property line between the church building and his
acreage. He claimed a few feet of land and the water well
brethren had just finished drilling. However, no one is
unpleasant and all go inside to study the Bible together.
The
Bible study progresses for a time and then reaches an impasse.
The fellow with the
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sports car raises a question: “Paul
says to give as we are prospered, but he also says to give
cheerfully. Now, according to my income I should give several
dollars per week but I can’t give more than a dollar cheerfully.
What about that?” Several brethren are chewing on something
— and I thought they got rid of their tobacco cud. Say, it
seems they are biting their tongues!
The
following hour, people sing, pray, and eat the Lord's supper.
Then a brother passes the collection basket. Nickels and dimes
drop noisily from small children’s fingers. Checks and folds
of bills are given by wage earners. With a satisfied smile, our
sports car buff cheerfully (?) deposits a crisp new one dollar
bill. In accord with his weekly budget, an old man in worn
clothes quietly removes $25 from an envelope containing $100. He
adds it to the collection.
Who
loves his God and appreciates his salvation most? Read Lk.
7:36-50. “.. to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth
little.” —–Joe Fitch
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