WHEN the gospel was first taken to the people of West China they were deeply sunk in sin. They had no light, and so were living in darkness, which was true of all of us, even in Christian lands, before the light of the gospel shone into our hearts. When the light from heaven shone into the hearts of these tribesmen they were saved from their sins, and what a change it was from their old heathen state! for “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Cor. 5:1717Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Among the Lisu people in western Yunnan there was a legend that one day a man would come with a book that would give them the knowledge they longed for. We know the holy Scriptures, the Word of God, is His answer to the need of man everywhere.
In Kweichow, the Miao people had turned to the Lord in great numbers, and they were very earnest Christians. The Bible was translated into their language and they were able to praise God with understanding, as they learned of His great love and truth through reading His Word. They wanted to do something to express their gratitude to those who had made it possible for them to have God’s Word. But what could they give, they were so poor and had no money? They lived on the poorest of the land and were downtrodden by their wealthy land owners.
Then one of them suggested they should set a day and take an offering. It was to be a very strange offering — an offering of little pigs. The day arrived; the offering was made unto the Lord and a great many little pigs were donated. These were to be sold at a market ten days journey away and men were appointed to take them there. They were on the road a much longer time than that, for you know little pigs can’t walk as fast as boys and girls. They can run fast enough when you try to catch them, but day after day these little pigs got tired and hungry, and had to be rested and fed by the way. One or two men went ahead calling and dropping beans and corn along the way, while men with dogs came on behind to see that none strayed or were stolen.
Eventually the little piggies arrived at the market and were sold. The money was sent to those who had provided the Bibles and was used for printing more Bibles for needy people everywhere. These poor people gave willingly of their gifts and we are sure God accepted them and used them as He always does.
One missionary was greatly impressed when a poor native gave him a gift to be used for the Lord. Like the poor widow’s two mites, it was only worth about six cents, but it was all he had, and it expressed his gratitude for the Word of God which had brought to him the message of the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
ML-01/31/1971