Preacher called me an hour or so before service and asked if I could take it for him. As I hung up my mind began racing and my eyes scanning through notes on many topics until they fell on a story. I'd like to share that story with you.
Crutches On The Altar
Author Unknown
One day a minister received a request from a missionary society to preach a missionary sermon to be followed by a collection for a certain foreign field. The minister put his whole soul into the effort, encouraging the people to give cheerfully for the Lord's work.
After the sermon the collection basket was passed as usual; but the minister watched the result with depressed feelings as only small amounts were dropped in. Evidently his words had not reached the hearts of his hearers. He noticed how those who were well able to give kept looking at the time, anxious to be out and about other things.
On the last bench, in the meantime, a battle was waging in the heart of a poorly clad girl. Through an accident, Margaret had been crippled. She could not take a step without assistance. One day a kind lady procured a pair of crutches for her, and since then her life had been much happier. This Sunday she ventured for the first time to church. What a great blessing it was to be able to listen to the Gospel once more.
As the usher came near with the basket, Margaret said to herself with a sad heart, "I have nothing to give - not a cent - and there in the foreign land the missionaries are expecting our gifts; they need so much to carry on their work. Oh, what can I do?" These thoughts went through her mind and made her shudder. "My new crutches could be sold for a sum of money, but I cannot spare them; I must have them; they are my very life."
"Yes, your life", said a voice within; "but did not Christ give His life for you? If you give what is your life, some poor souls in Africa will hear that He is their Savior too. Oh, if you only would!"
Finally a glow came over her face. She pressed, a kiss on the crutches and waited, her heart pounding.
The collection basket came to where Margaret sat. The usher knew her well. He gave a friendly nod and was about to pass on. To his astonishment, she made an effort to lay the crutches on the basket.
The man grasped the situation, took the crutches out of her hand, put them on the basket and carried them slowly through the aisle, laying them without a word on the altar.
Everyone watched him in breathless suspense. They all knew the young girl, and many eyes filled with tears. The minister, deeply affected, laid his hand on the crutches and repeated solemnly the words of Jesus: "She hath done what she could".
What a stir this incident made in the meeting! Suddenly the perspiration came on the banker's brow, and he wiped his face with his handkerchief as he pulled out his pocketbook. The rich lady fumbled about for her purse. The rich merchant whispered something in the ear of the usher, who passed the collection basket once more from bench to bench. This time money came like raindrops.
Quietly and solemnly the people left the church. One lady stepped up to Margaret and gave back her new crutches. She had redeemed them for the benefit of the missionaries for the sum of one hundred dollars. The happy girl returned home, little realizing how much she had done that day for her Master.
Turn with me to Mark chapter 12.
Mark 12:42-44
42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
"All that she had" - She gave her all. It wasn't much two mites, a couple of cents but it was all she had and that is what mattered more. Do we really give our all? We must. After all we sing about putting our all on the altar of sacrifice and we don't come forward crying, weeping, sobbing, wailing in sorrow and regret as we sing that song so we must think we do. But do we really do it?
No I don't think so. I know my all's not on the altar. I hold back. I bet if you search your own heart you'll admit you don't either. I don't give my all. I don't sell all but the essentials to help the poor in Jesus' name. I don't witness to people every chance I get even when I get a strong tug at my heart to do so at times. I am ashamed to admit it but...
...I am guilty of saying "Not now Jesus maybe later."
...I am guilty of saying "I do my share. Let someone else do it."
...I am guilty of saying "I can't Lord."
One man who gave his all was Jesus. He gave all right down to his life's blood. We don't have to make that kind of sacrifice because he made it for us but still we can give our all like great men of faith did - men like Peter, Paul, James, and John. These men traveled from town to town counting on the kindness of strangers for food and shelter in order to spread the good news of Jesus. They were cast out of society and cast into prisons but still they kept giving their all to Jesus. Tradition says this men eventually each gave their lives. So many others have been martyred for Christ.
They really understood Jesus' promise of Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.". I think we understand it we just don't apply it fully perhaps.
They apply it knowing we are all only here a short while. Blink and we are gone so they chose eternal things.
In Revelation 22:12, Jesus declares, "Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Whether his return is tomorrow, next year, or four hundred years from now, ee are each one day closer to his return and to the end of our worldly life. Do we give it all for greater eternal things or do we whittle away wastefully at our time. Each of us started today with 1440 minutes. We have each spent over 1100 so far today. Did we spend them for worldly things or eternal things? How will you spend tomorrow's minutes?
