THE INTER-AMERICAN
dl MESSEN
GER
-
The Run-a-way Steward
By CLYDE O. FRANZ, Treasurer
INTER-AMERICAN DIVISION
NOW IT came to pass that there
was in a certain country of the Inter-
American Division, a man who was a
steward of his Lords goods. It was
obvious that this steward had been the
recipient and custodian of many bless-
ings. He owned a comfortable home.
Around this home were cultivated acres,
groves of fruit, and herds of cattle.
The steward was known in his
local church as a man of piety and good
deeds. He was faithful in his attendance
at the Sabbath school and church
services. He was numbered among the
faithful at the mid-week prayer meeting.
But gradually, almost imperceptibly, a change came
about. As the steward meditated on his growing savings
account, his flourishing crops, his fat cattle, he seemed
to have less and less time for the things of the church.
Attendance at the services of the church began to seem
less important to him, and the desire to associate with
his brethren in the faith became less urgent.
It came to pass on a certain morning that the steward
was looking over his fields and planning his programme
for the day. As he was occupied in this task, a messenger,
sent from the Lord, appeared at his side and reminded
him that on this day the members of the local church
were dedicating their time to the repairing, cleaning, and
painting of the Lords sanctuary. “Give of your strength
and your means to this project,” the messenger urged.
The steward promised to consider this matter. He felt
that he ought to go, but finally he decided that he must
care for urgent business in ‘an opposite direction from
the church.
A few days later the messenger of the Lord again
appeared to the steward. His countenance betrayed the
fact that his message was a serious one. “The records
of the church treasurer indicate that you have fallen
Vol. XL
Clyde O. Franz
OCTOBER,
behind in paying vour tithe to the
Lord.” The steward appeared to be
startled. He had really not intended to
defraud the Lord. He had just been too
busy, and so he promised to go to the
bank immediately and draw from his
savings sufficient to pay his debt to
the Lord.
He went to the bank. He drew out
the necessary amount, but upon leaving
the bank he encountered an acquaint-
ance who offered him a field at a very
good price, almost exactly the amount
that he had withdrawn, He did not go
to the church treasurer; rather he went
to sce this property and he purchased it.
Once more the messenger of the Lord appeared to
the steward. “You are to go to the Middle East Division,”
was the message this time,
“Oh, no!” responded the steward. “I cannot possibly
do that. How can I leave my farms and my cattle and
my business?”
“The Lord does not ask you to go personally”
responded the messenger, “but it will be good for your
soul and will help finish the Lord’s work, if you will give
a generous 13th Sabbath offering. The overflow from
this offering wilk iwork for you in the Middle East
Division.”
As he thought of the small amounts he had been
placing in the Sabbath school envelope recently, the
steward was pricked in his conscience. He determined
that he would do better. But on the morning when the
13th Sabbath offering was to be received, a strange
malady afflicted the steward, and he told his wife that
he did not feel well enough to go to Sabbath school that
day. His wife wondered at his good appetite at break-
fast, in spite of his ‘malady. By noon the steward felt
much better and appeared quite normal again.
(Continued on page 10)
1963 No.10