OUR Sunday-school is just over. An incident was told there which I thought would be interesting to the readers of “Messages of Love,” so I will tell it to you, as well as give you the lesson it was intended to teach.
“Two boys went to town one morning quite early. One of them sold melons and fruit; the other sold oysters and fish. The market hours passed on and they were both doing well. Their pockets were fast filling up with money, as their stands were getting emptied of their contents. The last melon lay on Harry’s stand, when a gentleman came, and, placing his hand on it, said, “What a fine large melon! I think I must buy it. What do you ask for it?”
“The melon is the last one I have, sir, and though it looks very fine, there is an unsound spot on the other side,” said the boy, turning it over.
“So there is,” said the man. “I think I will not take it. But is it very business like to point out the defects of your goods to customers?”
“Perhaps not, sir, but it is better than being dishonest,” said the boy.
The man then sought to encourage him to always tell the truth, and assuring him that it would always bring blessing with it, telling him at the same time that he would not forget his stand in the future.
He then turned to the other boy and asked if his oysters were fresh.
“Yes, sir,” he replied, “fresh this morning.”
The man bought them and went away.
When the man was out of sight, Ben turned to his companion and said, “How foolish you were to show the man the bad spot in your melon! You can take it home for your pains, or throw it away. He would never have looked at the melon until he got home. I sold my stale oysters at the same price as fresh ones.”
“I would not tell a lie or act one either,” said Harry, “for twice the money we have both earned to day. I know I will be better off in the end, for I have gained a customer, and you have lost one.”
And so it proved; for the next day the man bought a large supply of fruit from Harry but he did not spend another penny at Ben’s stand. And this continued all summer; and better than this, at the end of the summer he took Harry into his store, and after a while gave him an interest in the business. You will say how well he was rewarded for telling the truth.”
The lesson that was brought out from this was, that we are like the melon, we are bad. And what God wants us to do, is to tell the truth about ourselves. And what would you have to say about yourself if you told the truth? Would it not be, “I have sinned, and perverted that which is right,” (Job 33:2727He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; (Job 33:27)) and “Woe is me! for I am undone;” (Isa.6:5) and “I am a sinful man, O Lord”? (Luke 5:88When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. (Luke 5:8)) Would not the cry be wrung from your heart, “God be merciful to me a sinner”? (Luke 18:1313And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. (Luke 18:13)).
Oh, dear reader, tell God all the truth about yourself. Don’t try to hide anything. Of course He knows all, and it is true, you cannot hide anything from Him, but He wants you to go to Him about it, so that He can tell you how willing He is to forgive you all, and to make you happy for time and eternity. If you have never done this, do so at once, and peace with God will be yours now, and His presence your home for ever.
ML 06/29/1902