“God’s Work must be Done, and I may be Dead.”
SOME years ago, a missionary in a Pagan land brought before his people a benevolent object, for which he proposed to receive their contributions, at some future time. A maimed and crippled man pressed forward at once, and, laying down a handful of silver, said, “That is for myself; and that,” laying down another, “is for my wife; and that,” laying down still another, “is for my child;” the whole sum being some seven dollars from this poor African, for a single benevolent object. “But,” said the missionary, as the man was giving it, “I do not want the contributions now, but only to know how much you think you can give when the time shall come for collecting it.” “Ah, sir,” replied the man with deep earnestness, “God’s work must be done, and I may be dead.” And he refused to take back the contribution, saying, “No, no; I cannot take it back; for God’s work must be done, and I may be dead.” This was true wisdom in the poor African, wisdom to guide us not only in giving, but in all our Christian labors. “God’s work must be done, and I may be dead,” and therefore I will now give, and do, all I can for his cause and kingdom.—Sel.