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A Real Sacrifice

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 5, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 49.

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A Real Sacrifice

By L. L. C.

A STORY which has recently come to our attention illustrates so well what real sacrifice means that we feel it should be told to our readers:—
Two men of good income were talking together and complaining of the constant demand made by the minister in their church for money for missionary work. They each decided that while he was glad to do what he could, there were many other things of which he must think. Some time later these two men decided to go on a trip around the world together. Being really interested in church work, although not giving so much toward the work as their income really made possible, they were curious to see what was being done by the missionaries in the various fields where their church had established stations.
When they came to Korea, they saw one day a large boy pulling a primitive plow, while the boy’s father held the plow handle. This amused our travelers so much that one of them took a kodak picture, saying that such a picture would be a great curiosity. He remarked to the missionary who was accompanying them that these persons must be very poor. The missionary answered that they were members of the Christian church of which he was a member, and that a short time before, desiring to make an offering but having nothing to give, they had sold their only ox and given the proceeds into the mission funds, and since then had been compelled to pull the plow themselves.
The two travelers, much impressed, decided that these converted heathen had given an example of real sacrifice such as they had never seen at home. The impression was so deep and genuine that they not only recounted this story, with the result that many at home were led to increase their offerings, but they themselves never again complained that the demands for money were too many or too frequent.
Would that we all could learn this lesson of real sacrifice for God’s work!    L. L. C.