Vol.VIII No.III Pg.1
May 1971

Appraising Gods Gift

Robert F. Turner

Majestic pines and other forest giants tower above the old mans 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 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 cant 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 childrens 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