Two wealthy Christians, a lawyer and a merchant, joined a party that was going around the world. Before they started, their minister earnestly asked them to observe and remember any unusual and interesting things that they might see in the missionary countries through which the party was to travel. The men promised—carelessly, perhaps—to do so.
In Korea, one day, they saw in a field by the side of the road a boy pulling a rude plow, while an old man held the plow handles and directed it. The lawyer was amused, and took a snapshot of the scene. “That’s a curious picture! I suppose they are very poor,” he said to the missionary, who was interpreter and guide to the party.
“Yes,” was the quiet reply. “That is the family of Chi Noui. When the church was being built they were eager to give something to it, but they had no money; so they sold their only ox and gave the money to the church. This spring they are pulling the plow themselves.”
The lawyer and the business man by his side were silent for some moments. Then the business man said, “That must have been a real sacrifice.” “They did not call it that,” said the missionary. “They thought it was fortunate that they had an ox to sell.”
The lawyer and the business man had not much to say. But when they reached home the lawyer took that picture to his minister and told him the story. “I want to double my pledge to the church,” he said. “And give me some plow work to do, please. I have never known what sacrifice for the church meant. A converted heathen taught me. I am ashamed to say I have never yet given anything to my church that cost me anything.”
How much does the average modern church member ever sacrifice for his religion? How many that call themselves Christians ever sold the ox and then harnessed themselves to the plow?
The Youth’s Companion.