Mr. Philip, a Missionary in South Africa, told the following story: One day, having given a New Testament to a girl, her brother, a boy about ten years of age, asked for one for himself. I had laid down a rule that I would give but one Bible free to a family, so I refused to give him one without money. The children came from a poor home where the widowed mother had a hard time trying to make ends meet.
The boy went off, but a little while later he was back with a small coin worth about a nickel. I informed him that I could not give him a Bible for that small sum, so off he went again and returned with another nickel. Finding that this was still not sufficient, he tried again to obtain more money, but failed; he made a fourth attempt and this time he succeeded and came back with another nickel. The poor boy could do no more, his resources were at an end, and he knew if he did not succeed now he must be without a Bible.
It was quite affecting to see this interesting boy, in an imploring attitude, with his arms extended, holding his money in his open hands, and the tears in his eyes, while he pleaded for a Bible. I could no longer resist. I inquired how he got the money, and was told he got one nickel from his mother, one from his brother, and that he had pledged some of his toys for the other. I gave him the Bible, and returned his money. The poor boy could not have appeared more happy than he showed himself to be on this occasion, even if a king’s crown had been put on his head.
May we who have so much in this day of wealth and plenty have more of the spirit of the little African boy and appreciate more than we do the great and blessed privilege of hang the Word of God, the Bible, to read and enjoy.
“Forever, O LORD, Thy word is settled in heaven.” Psa. 119: 89.
Around the throne of God in heaven
Will many children sing;
Children whose sins are all forgiven,
Will heavenly anthems bring,
Singing, “glory, glory, glory be to God on high!”
Because the Saviour shed His blood
To purge away their sin;
Now washed in that most precious flood,
Behold them white and clean!
ML 12/03/1967