The Dimes by W. N. G.

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jul 25, 1878

The Dimes.

By W. N. G.

The old adage, “Take care of the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves,” is a good motto, but like many other good things is disregarded on account of its age. While contemplating our missionary work I have been impressed with the important part our spare dimes and half dimes might be made to act in the great work. I am reminded of the widow’s two mites cast into the treasury of the Lord at Jerusalem, and how the little sum was appreciated by the Lord himself. Jesus called his disciples and especially commended the act of the poor widow; a record of the deed was made in the book we recognize as the word of God, and the fame thereof has been handed down to all succeeding generations, and will probably never cease. Two mites is a sum equal to about half a cent, and we see what that small amount accomplished. It procured the blessing of God; and a small sum given with like humble faith, will procure a like blessing now.

How much good missionary work could be accomplished with the dimes and half dimes that are carelessly thrown away for little follies. Five cents will buy forty pages of truth-bearing tracts, and ten cents will buy eighty pages. But think of how much an accumulation of these small moneys will do. Probably one-half of the receipts of all our thousands of saloons are dimes and half dimes—given away by those who say to themselves as they thus squander their means, “Oh, ten cents is nothing.” And perhaps the same persons, if solicited for a dime to assist some beneficent cause, would deny their own argument, and maintain that “every ten cents counts, these hard times.” Dime savings banks accumulate so much means that dishonest bank officers frequently find it convenient to fail and retire rich.

Another feature in this connection is pride. The missionary work, the publishing work, and the preaching work could all be greatly increased in usefulness by the dimes that are kept back through pride. Many would gladly do some great thing who are too proud to give a dime, hence they do nothing, and the dime probably goes for candy or some other injurious or useless folly. Many poor persons will subscribe to a good cause, and through pride subscribe more than they are able to pay; consequently they pay nothing, and the cause lacks the little that might have been given.

If the dimes that are thoughtlessly thrown away as nothing worthy of saving, and those kept back through pride to give so small an amount, were cast into the treasury of the Lord, there would be no lack of means to carry on the cause of truth. W. N. G.