THERE was a very rich man who, in reply to the question of a friend if his wealth made him happy, said,
"Ah! no. I must leave my money behind me when I die. It won't take away my trouble. It won't buy off sickness. It won't buy off death. No, no; my money does not make me happy."
Just three months after that conversation, the wealthy man's friend had to call and see a poor old woman, whom he knew. She was lame, and earned part of her support by knitting socks, comforters and mittens, which she sold to kind people who were willing to buy them. For the rest of the means to buy needed food and clothing, and pay the rent of the one tiny room in which she dwelt, up a great many stairs in a high building, she was dependent on what might be given to her in the way of alms.
The visitor was led to put to her the same question that he had asked the millionaire; so he said,
"Margaret, are you happy?"
"Yes, very!" she answered; and the sudden brightening of her face made her words sound doubly true; "I am just as full of happiness as ever I can be; I don't believe I could hold another drop."
"But how can that be?" said the gentleman. "You are sick, and alone, and you have nothing to live on. Surely it would make you happier to be rich?"
"No, no," she said, "you forget the sweet promise in yon blessed Book," pointing to her well-used Bible. "I have the blessing of the Lord, and it maketh rich. I have Christ; and Christ is God's.
"Thou that hast made our heaven secure,
Wilt here all good provide;
While Christ is rich, can we be poor?
Christ who for us has died!"
Dear reader, are you happy?
Messages of God’s Love 6/8/1930