p. 603 | Which Acre Is It?

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 8, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 38.

Which Acre Is It?

THE shrewdness which some people exhibit in their endeavors to rob God and keep up a reputation for generosity, is quite remarkable. The Journal and Messenger furnishes the following illustration of a style of "systematic giving" which is in spirit none too rare.

A colored brother was explaining his system of giving to the Lord. "Yes, sir," he said to the visitor, easing himself back on his spade, "I gibes de truck off 'o one acre ebbery year to de Lawd."

"Which acre is it?" inquired his friend.

"Wal, dat am a different question. De truf am, de acre changes 'most ebbery season."

"How's that?"

"Why, in de wet seasons I gibes de Lawd de low lan', an' in de dry seasons I gibes him de top acre ob de whole plantashun."

"In that case the Lord's acre is the worst in the whole farm, for in wet seasons it would be flooded, and in dry times parched."

"Jes' so," rejoined the systematic giver; "you don't allow I'se goin' to rob my family ob de best acre I'se got, did ye?"

And so the colored brother went on with his digging, with a self-complacent smile which was a sure indication that in heart and mind he was in perfect harmony with some persons of lighter color, who serve themselves first and their Lord afterwards; and who take good care that whatever misfortunes they meet with, or disadvantages they labor under, the Lord's cause must bear the loss, while they themselves will pocket, whatever gains there are.—Christian.