[CHAPTER X.]
AN ACCEPTABLE OFFERING.
WHEN Isa Dás received his first month's salary from his master, he felt himself indeed a rich man. Every pice of it had been honestly earned. As he tied up the silver in his kamarband many thoughts regarding the use of money came into the mind of Isa Dás. He was truly a Christian, and, therefore, looked at the matter in a Christian point of view.
"I have now no wife or children to support, and this money is more than enough to supply my needs, unless I choose to eat richer food, wear finer clothes, and instead of using my own feet hire a tatoo (pony). Can I do nothing better with my money? My Saviour used to say 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' It is a blessing to receive a regular salary, but in spending it well, we may find a greater blessing still."
As Isa Dás went about his daily occupations, he still thought and thought, "What shall I do with my money? When I was a Hindu how much I spent on pilgrimages and melás, and feasting fat Brahmins! Going to the Hurdwan melá * cost me hundreds of rupees, and almost my life! If the Hindus make sacrifices for their religion, shall the follower of Christ do less for his? The Lord, when He left heaven to save us, 'though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor.' For us He gave up glory, happiness, yes, life itself, and shall we give up nothing for Him? O Lord! Let me count it not only my duty but my delight to lay my little offerings at Thy feet!"
* For some particulars of this melá see note at the end.
Isa Dás resolved from that day, that every tenth rupee that he earned, he would regard not his own, but the Lord's; he would look upon his salary as nine rupees. This was his simple duty, he felt that he could not do less. But the Christian was not contented with this. He would not merely give that of which he would never feel the loss; he resolved to live simply and deny himself unnecessary indulgences, in order that he might have more to give away.
"But in what way shall I spend my offering?" thought Isa Dás. "I see plenty of misery around me, so much that my money seems but as a drop given to a thirsty camel. My master is engaged every day in distributing Government relief in very large sums. If I only knew of some one in need who is not likely to be found amongst the crowds of noisy beggars, if, above all, I could find some servant of Christ in want, how much better to bestow my small alms there, where every anna would tell."
Isa Dás then remembered that his missionary friend had asked him to search out a poor family of native Christians living in a village five or six miles from the town at which he was staying.