The Blind Beggar’s Gift
By MRS. R. F. COTTRELL.
To all outward appearances he was only a blind, ragged beggar who had drifted with the crowd into our snug little chapel at Ning Shang, Hunan. Evangelist Li was telling the people that night how Seventh-day Adventists all over the world were donating of their means at the close of the week of prayer, so that God’s work in the earth might not be hindered.
He was calling on the people to give until they “felt it,” when up went the blind beggar’s hand, accompanied with the words, “I want to give one string of cash”; (about thirty-five cents, gold). “The Lord does not want your money,” responded Brother Li. “Why not?” said the beggar. “This money is not counterfeit, is it? Why will you not accept my gift?” “We know the tricks of the beggars who give of their money in the contribution boxes, and then plan definitely to come to the preaching hall for free board during the next few weeks,” said Brother Li. “But I want to give because what you said to-night touched my heart, and I assure you that I hope for nothing in return,” replied the beggar. Grateful to the One of whom he had heard that night, this poor blind man gave of his penury until he indeed “felt it,” and the Lord used this incident to open the hearts of many present to give more liberally. Let us hope that this poor man, with many others in just as great heathen blindness, may, like Bartimeus of old, have it said of him that he “received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.”