Two men lived in the hills of North Carolina. One of them heard the gospel and was convicted of his sins. He believed the Word of God and received its message of salvation in his heart. A few days later he went to his neighbor's house and said: "I have come to talk to you. Perhaps you know that I have been saved."
"Yes," sneered the other, "I heard you had been down to the meetings. And so you went forward for prayers. I am surprised! I thought you were as sensible a man as any in town."
"Well," said the first, "I have a duty towards you. I haven't slept for two nights thinking about it. I have four sheep in my flock that belong to you. They came two years ago with your brand mark on them. I took them and marked them with my brand. I know you asked around, but could not find them. They are in my field now, with their offspring. I want to settle with you if you are willing, or you can settle with me by the law if you'd rather."
The other man was amazed. He told his neighbor that he could keep the sheep-only please go away! He was shaken by the thought that something had got hold of his old friend which he could not understand. He repeated: "You keep the sheep, but please go away."
"No," said the Christian. "I must settle this matter. I cannot rest until I do. You must tell me how much I owe you."
"Well, then, pay me the worth of the sheep when they went to you, and six percent interest. Then please go away and leave me alone!"
The Christian laid down the amount asked, and then doubled it. He went away, leaving his old friend's heart greatly troubled.
Today the second man is no longer an unbeliever. He, too, is a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, and is another bright testimony to his Lord.