Cast Your Bread

Scripture References: 1 Kings 17:1-6, Luke 8:1-3

Herman Brown went into business in 1909, building roads in the Texas Hill Country. He worked hard and faithfully, becoming a foreman and then a contractor. Political patronage and legal connections brought him a road-building contract. Having borrowed to the limit to finance a project, he found himself broke when rains made further work impossible. He couldn’t even afford feed for his mules. At that point a local merchant gave him feed on credit. Years later when Brown was a successful contractor, he heard that the merchant had gone broke in the Depression and lived in poverty. Within a few days the old man received a check in the mail big enough to erase money worries for the rest of his life. His kindness had been remembered.

We never know when a kindness shown will become a kindness returned. Given the vagaries of life, any of us could someday be the object, not the origin, of the generosity we now express. Those who faithfully help others in their distress seldom lack help in their own.

Courtesy of Speaker’s Sourcebook of New Illustrations by Virgil Hurley © 1995 by Word, Incorporated.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV © 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved.