Oxen for Sale

Two wealthy Christians, a lawyer and a merchant, joined a party that was going around the world. One day, in Korea, they saw in a field a boy pulling a crude plow, while an old man held the plow and guided it. The lawyer was amused and took a snapshot of the scene.

"That's a curious picture. I suppose they are very poor," he said to the missionary who was the interpreter and guide. "Yes," was the quiet reply, "that is the family of Chi Noui. When the place of worship was being built, they were eager to give something to it, but they had no money. They sold the only ox they had and gave the money to the church. This spring they are pulling the plow themselves."

The men were silent for several minutes. Then the businessman said, "That must have been a real sacrifice." 

"They did not call it that," answered the missionary. "They thought they were fortunate to have an ox to sell."

The lawyer and the businessman had not much to say. When they reached home, the lawyer took the picture to his preacher and told him of the incident. "I want to double my contribution to the church," he said. He had never known what sacrifice for the Lord meant until this converted heathen taught him.

The man was ashamed that he had never given anything to the church that cost him anything. After learning this important lesson, his resolve was that of what David expressed in 2 Samuel 24:24, "Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing." 

Someone will buy your ox!

Steve Riley