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Returning
Thanks
Many
years ago two boys were working their way through
Stanford University. Their funds got desperately low,
and the idea came to them to engage Paderewski, the
great Polish pianist, for a piano recital. They would
use the funds to help pay their board and tuition.
The great pianist’s manager asked for a
guarantee of $2,000. The guarantee was a lot of money
in those days, but the boys agreed and proceeded to
promote the concert. They worked hard, only to find
that they had grossed only $1,600.
After
the concert the two boys told the great artist the bad
news. They gave him the entire $1,600, along with a
promissory note for $400, explaining that they would
earn the amount at the earliest possible moment and
send the money to him. It looked like the end of their
college careers.
“No,
boys,” replied Paderewski, “that won’t do.”
Then, tearing the note in two, he returned the money
to them as well. “Now,” he told them, “take out
of this $1,600 all of your expenses, and keep for each
of you 10 percent of the balance for your work. Let me
have the rest.”
The
years rolled by -- World War I came and went.
Paderewski, now Premier of Poland, was striving to
feed thousands of starving people in his native land.
There was only one man in the world who could help him
- he was in charge of the U.S. Food and Relief Bureau.
He quickly agreed to help and soon thousands of tons
of food were sent to Poland.
After
the starving people were fed, Paderewski journeyed to
Paris to thank the man for the relief he had sent....
“That’s
all right, Mr. Paderewski,” was his reply.
“Besides, you don’t remember it, but you helped me
once when I was a student at college, and I was also
in trouble.” The
man’s name? Herbert Clark Hoover, 31st
President of the United States of America.” *
Paderewski,
with great generosity and kindness, was able to help a
couple of struggling college students.
Years later, one of those college students was
able to say “Thank you” by assisting Paderewski
and his people in a great time of need.
It is a wonderful thing to be able to return
thanks for a noble action done on behalf of another.
Friend,
something has been done for YOU!
You didn’t ask for it, but you desperately
needed it. It
happened long before you were born, but you may still
benefit greatly by the action of a loving, generous
Person.
"For
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish
but have everlasting life”
(John 3:16).
Because
of OUR grievous condition due to our sin, the kind and
loving Heavenly Father gave us His Son to die on the
cross for our sins (Romans 5:8).
Because of this great Sacrifice, we may have
forgiveness from our sins (Ephesians 1:7) and the gift
of eternal life (Romans 6:23).
How
can we return thanks for this indescribable Gift and
receive those blessings?
By our humble submission to His will: believing
and trusting Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turning from our
sin in repentance
(Acts 17:30-31), confessing
Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized
(immersed) in His name for the forgiveness of our sins
(Acts 2:38). Then
we can continue to show our gratitude by seeking to
live obediently to His will for the rest of our lives
(John 14:15).
Friend,
a great thing has been done for you: Jesus died for
you so that you might live.
Won’t YOU “return
thanks” by giving your life to Him?
David
A. Sargent,
Minister
Church
of Christ at Creekwood
1901
Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
* Bits & Pieces,
August 22, 1991
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