Have You Become Poor? by A. G. Sikhamont

Pacific Press Publishing Association

FromSigns of the Times, Harvest Ingathering Number

Have You Become Poor?

By A. G. Sikhamont

ON our way home for the holidays, we broke our journey by stopping with friends who had known us a few years ago. After we arrived at their home, and the greetings were over, one of the first questions asked my wife by the hostess was, "Have you become poor?"

"What makes you ask such a question?" my wife replied.

"Because you have on an ordinary cloth, and do not wear even your ordinary jewels," the lady said.

According to the custom of the country, people traveling and visiting dress themselves in their best, and wear all their jewels. This may mean that the wife will have upon her person all the husband's wealth, or the savings of the family for two or three generations. They even go to the extent of decking themselves with jewels borrowed from their neighbors.

"I do not wear jewels," my wife said, "not because I have none, but to prove the sincerity of my love for Him who, though He was rich, yet for our sakes became poor. This is one of the sacrifices I have made to follow Him."

This led to further conversation about the Saviour and His love; and when we left, they asked us to send them literature, and we promised to do so.

Coimbatore, South India.

Mrs. B. Petersen and Her Bible Class, Mukden; Students with Unbound Feet; Mrs. E. Thomas and Her Tamil Class, India