p. 8 | Not a Large Capital

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 14, 1910

Not a Large Capital

Let no one be discouraged from trying to be helpful to others by the thought that he has only a few talents.

“What if the little Jewish lad That summer day had failed to go Down to the lake, because he had So small a store of loaves to show?”

In an English town there lived an old woman past seventy years of age. She was poor and feeble. Her pastor preached a sermon on foreign missions which so interested her that she offered herself as a missionary to Africa. She was gently told that she could not go; but that, instead, she might pray for the cause and send her alms. So she began saving her pennies, anxious to do some thing in the missionary work.

In that same place lived a rich young nobleman, who cared more for his dogs than for religious enterprises. He heard about the old woman, and went to see her one day. He found her in tears, utterly disappointed and discouraged. She said that the people only laughed at her, and that all she had gathered together as the fruit of so much pains amounted to but a few shillings.

“My barley loaves are worthless,” was her despairing cry. That very night she died. The next day found the young lord sitting silently and alone, his head bowed in his hands. The Spirit of God was moving on his heart. The result was that he wrote a letter offering himself as a missionary to Africa.

Have not you one “barley loaf,” or two, or more, that you can offer to Jesus? What you bring he will bless to the feeding of the hungry multitude.—Selected.