A GENTLEMAN living in Paris was waited on by four of his workmen in order to offer their compliments, and accept their usual New Year’s gifts.
“Well, my friends,” said the gentleman, “here are your gifts; choose fifteen francs, or the Bible.”
“I don’t know how to read,” said the first, “so I take the fifteen francs.”
“I can read,” said the second, “but I have pressing wants.” He also took the fifteen francs.
The third also made the same choice. The fourth was a young boy of thirteen or fourteen. The gentleman asked him,
“Will you too take these fifteen francs, which you may obtain at any time by your labor and industry?”
“As you say the book is good, I will take it, and read it to my mother,” replied the boy. He took the Bible, opened it, and found between the leaves a piece of gold—forty francs. The others hung their heads, and the gentleman told them he was sorry they had not made a better choice.
Now, we have not told you this to make you think that if you read the Bible, you will then become rich in this world’s things. But just as that boy made a pleasant discovery on opening the leaves of the Bible, so if you read the Scriptures, and put your trust in the Saviour of whom they speak, you will make a glorious discovery, for you will be able to say,
“I have found Christ;” and when any one can say that, he has an eternal treasure, and shall enjoy in His blest company, an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, and which will last forever.
ML 01/01/1922