A Farm for Sale—Bidders Wanted.
By T. S. M.
“Have you sold that farm yet?” “Why do you ask that? What am I to sell my farm for?” “Because Christ commands you to do it.” “I did not know that before.” “That is strange indeed. You ought to have known it, surely. What did you tell the missionary agent when he called on you a short time ago?” “I told him I had no money.” “And you thought that a good reason for not giving, did you?” “Certainly I did. How can I give when I have no money?” “I will tell you that presently, but first answer me another question. What did you tell the agent you had done with your money?” “I told him I had paid it on the land I bought.” “Just so I thought. Now, brother, this is an old story of yours, and I am going to deal faithfully with you, for the honor of my Master requires it. I remember, two years ago, I called on you in behalf of the American Board. It was a pressing time. There was danger that all our missionary operations would be greatly crippled for want of funds. You had just concluded a bargain for another piece of land, and said it would take all you could rake and scrape to pay for it. The Tract Society's agent came along, and made an earnest appeal. You still owed a little on your land, and could do nothing for the cause of benevolence until that was paid. Then the Bible Society presented its claims—you had just bought a horse, and could do nothing. Afterwards, Home Missions—you had not your money a short time before, and had none by you. Now, brother, these excuses of buying and being in debt will not do. You can't escape the claims of the Lord Jesus by any such maneuvering. He has been beforehand with you, and put a text in the Bible on purpose to meet the plea of those who say they have no money. You will find it in Luke xii, 33—'Sell that thou hast, and give alms.' Have no money! Then sell a few acres and get some. Sell a horse—a cow—some grain—some merchandise. What right have you to be speculating on God's money; to have it pledged to mammon beforehand, so that you protest every order the Lord Jesus sends you, and feel easy as long as you can say, 'I am in debt,' or, 'I am about buying more.' It is a fraudulent transfer to avoid a just claim. The Lord can carry on his purposes without your money. Certainly he can, for the silver and gold are all his. But he has a mortgage on your property, and if it is not cancelled one of two things you may expect. Either he will send an execution by the hand of one of his strong sheriffs, viz., fire, flood, blasting, or mildew; or else it will remain only to be a curse to you and your children. Your gold and silver will be cankered, and the rust of them will be as a witness against you, and it shall eat your flesh as it were fire. The Lord Jesus allows you, as a redeemed sinner, the privilege of bringing an offering as a testimonial of your gratitude.” “Oh! this ever buying for self, and never selling for Christ! My brother, reverse the order. Begin to sell for Christ. The world is getting too much of your heart.” T. S. M.—Central Christian Herald.