MR. MORRIS was once traveling through the mountains of Vermont when he was caught in a thunder shower. Stopping at a small home on the edge of the woods he asked the lady if he could take shelter there until the rain was over. She kindly consented and Mr. Morris was quite charmed by her little baby girl.
The young mother remarked that she was afraid of thunder, and he took the opportunity to talk with her of the Lord Jesus, saying that she need not be afraid if she trusted in God. However, she did not seem to know anything about the Scriptures or the way of salvation. When the rain was over, Mr. Morris thanked her for her kindness and encouraged her to read the Bible. With tears in her eyes she confessed she had no Bible, as they were too poor to buy one. However, she said she would read it if she had one.
Mr. Morris thought, "Here is a poor woman in need of a Bible. I don't have one to give her, and I have just enough money to get home on. What can I do?" Then the words came into his mind, "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord." Prov. 19:1717He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. (Proverbs 19:17). Also, "Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days." Eccles. 11:11Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. (Ecclesiastes 11:1).
"I will trust the Lord," said Mr. Morris to himself, and going back he gave the young mother a dollar, telling her to buy a Bible with it. She promised she would and thanked him warmly.
Mr. Morris traveled on. He had only a little change left in his pocket, and at night he stopped at another private house along the way as he could not afford to go to the inn. He was about to eat some of the meager fare he had with him when the family insisted he come and have supper with them. They seemed to appreciate his conversation and when in the morning he wanted to pay for his night's lodging they would not take anything. "What can this mean?" thought Mr. Morris. "I was never treated like this while traveling before." Then he thought of the dollar he had given to the poor mother. "I have been well repaid," he said. "It is safe lending to the Lord."
About a year and a half later a stranger called at Mr. Morris' house and asked if he might purchase a meal. In the course of their conversation Mr. Morris asked him if there was any desire for the gospel in the district where he came from. "Not much," he replied, "but about 35 miles away there seems to be quite a work going on. It all started in a remarkable way. A traveler had stopped at the home of a poor woman during a thunder storm and spoke to her about the Lord. She became very anxious about her salvation and the man gave her a dollar to buy a Bible. She did so and read it diligently. Through it she found the Saviour. Her neighbors wondered at her and they too became concerned for their souls' salvation. Now there are at least 30 rejoicing in God their Saviour."
Mr. Morris, who had been listening with his heart swelling more and more with wonder, thanksgiving and joy, could refrain no longer but with hands and eyes raised to heaven exclaimed, "My God, Thou hast paid me again!"
When we give to the Lord He always repays us with "good measure, pressed down, and running over."
Messages of the Love of God 6/22/1975