| Finding the Way |
Chapter 10 |
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The abundant life need not be known by its large money gifts. The tendency is to measure every man’s value to the world by his charities. No doubt money has its value. Those who give to education, to religion, to philanthropy, if their gifts are wisely bestowed, greatly bless the world. Nothing should be said to chill the ardour of those who devote their money to worthy causes. Yet money never is the best gift which a man may bestow upon his fellows.
There is a story of a famishing pilgrim in the desert who found a sack which he thought contained food. When he had eagerly torn it open it had in it a great treasure of pearls – some man’s whole fortune dropped in the sands. But he flung it from him in anguish. It was food that he wanted, and the bag of pearls was only a bitter mockery to his hunger. There are great human needs which money has no power to satisfy, but to which a true heart’s gentle love will be the very bread of God. There are sorrows which money cannot soothe, but which a word of loving comfort will change into songs.
So far as we know, Jesus never gave money, and yet the world has never known another such lavish giver as He was. Imagine Him going about with His hands full of coins and dispensing them among the poor, the lame, the blind, the sick – money, and nothing else. What a poor, paltry service His would then have been in comparison with the wonderful and gracious ministry of kindness and love which He wrought!
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