How Much?

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 21, 1903

It is an easy matter to say how much we would give if we had what we do not now possess. The following story is a good illustration of this kind of spirit in giving:—

One native convert said to another: “If you had one hundred sheep, would you give fifty of them for God’s work?”

He replied, “That I would; I would be willing to give fifty.”

“If you had one hundred cows, would you be willing to give fifty of them to the gospel work?”

“O, yes, I would,” was the prompt reply.

“But you would not do it if they were one hundred horses, would you?”

“O, yes, I would. You would see that I would.”

“But if you had two pigs, would you be willing to give one of them?”

The man’s countenance fell, and he quickly replied, “No, I wouldn’t. You know I have two pigs; then why do you ask me that?”

He was willing to give what he had not, but what he had he was not willing to give.—United Presbyterian.