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An ancestor of mine has recently given me a treasure. While looking through an ancient family Bible, copyright 1851, I found a tiny, yellowed, brittle newspaper clipping of this poem:
Giving Again
Giving is living, the angels said.
Go feed to the hungry sweet charity’s bread;
And must I keep giving and giving again?
My selfish and querulous answer ran.
“Oh no,” said the angel, piercing me through.
“Just give till the Master stops giving to you.”
Seldom have I seen such a powerful statement. The answer is obvious–God never stops giving to us, even when we don’t believe in Him or push Him to the background of our lives. How few of us can measure up to that kind of love.
I know two men at the Hospitality House who come as close as anyone I’ve ever known to the kind of giving that is like the Master’s. Jimmy Gaston is the driver for the House and Joe Chastain is his right hand man. The two are also best friends. They spend a lot of time kidding each other, making everyone else laugh, too.
However, Jimmy and Joe’s best qualities are their love for the Lord and their lives lived in service to Him. They pick up the donations from the grocery stores and from other contributors. You may have seen them on their rounds. Jimmy also gives anyone from the House a ride to or from work, to appointments, to church, to doctors. He’s always ready for his next assignment, always diligent. Jimmy gives encouragement, too; he readily talks about his relationship with Jesus and has a great listening ear. He’ll stop by the silkscreen shop almost daily just to say “God bless you”.
Joe has a reputation for helping with just about any job that needs doing. He says he does it for the Lord. Not only does he give assistance at the House, he also helps his friends in the community with chores around their homes. His best gift is one of friendship. He frequents the silkscreen shop, sitting in on our fellowship time, just because he is our friend.
May God bless Jimmy and Joe as richly as they have blessed all those whose lives they have touched. When you see them in town, say “Hi”. You’ll see what I mean.
We’ll stop giving at the Hospitality House, when He stops giving to us.
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Giving
