“Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.” (Ecc. 11:1).
“What good can I do?” said a very sincere, but timid Christian servant, to a friend who was urging direct effort for the soul-saving of perishing sinners upon her as a personal duty. “I have so little time and less opportunity.”
“Can’t you even give away tracts?” was the answer.
“When? I am employed from morning to night. On Sunday I take my turn out with the others just to chapel and back again, and through the week I am only out on an errand for my mistress. I wish I could work for Christ Jesus my Lord, but how can I?”
“Well, it is difficult, Maria; but is not your duty to answer the bell every day?”
“Yes.”
“Then carry tracts in your pocket, and when anyone comes to the door to sell or beg, give one away with prayer.”
“So I will. I never thought of that but if they refuse—?”
“If one should refuse, all will not.”
The tracts were bought, and soon an occasion for their use offered itself: A woman accustomed to selling fruit and vegetables at the house rang the bell, and Maria answered her; and as the purchase was completed, she quietly gave a tract to the woman.
“What do I want with that trash?” said the woman angrily, and she whirled the tract into the air and went her way. Poor Maria! It was a very discouraging beginning.
Not long after, she was taken very ill. In her illness she told the friend who had advised her effort, how badly it had succeeded.
“Did you give it with prayer?”
“O, yes, and even tears.”
“Then leave the results with God. You have done your work, and must be content that the disciple shall not be above the Master. Jesus was scorned by those He longed to save. Let no failure turn you from your resolve; when you are better, try again.”
But Maria was going to her heavenly home. Her illness terminated in consumption; and she was soon taken to the Savior’s sheltering arms. She never knew what became of her silent, winged messenger.
It was night, an impatient man walked up and down a lane which skirted a large city. Presently he stopped under a streetlamp post, stooped down, and picked up a piece of paper. It was headed,
“What am I living for?”
“What, indeed!” said the man to himself bitterly, then he crushed the tract in his hand, stood still a minute, then unfolded the crumpled paper, and read on to the end. Afterward he turned out of the lane, and went with restless steps and beating heart to his home, with an arrow fast in his conscience, and a tumult of confusion through all his nature. That arrow of conviction was sent to his heart by an unfailing Messenger. The Spirit of the Lord was dealing with the sinful man.
That “piece of paper” was poor Maria’s despised tract, carried by the wind to do God’s bidding. In His mysterious providence she was not permitted on earth to learn of its fruit, or her answered prayer. By it the poor man who had once a pious home, was led to the Lord Jesus.
The timid believer’s trembling, tearful effort was not forgotten in the Master’s service.
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 15:5858Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58)).