The Pulpit Speaks: March 7, 1964

An article written by my father, the Rev. C. Thomas Paige, as it appeared in the Tri-State Defender on the date shown.

“I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly!”

WHOSE BUSINESS

A little boy had been carried downtown by his mother. The mission had carried them from store to store. Coming out of one store, the little boy saw a ragged man standing at the door, begging for money.

He turned to his mother and said, “Mother, give that poor old man something!” The mother snatched him by the hand and shouted, “That man is none of your business!”

That night the young boy knelt beside his bed and started his prayers. During the course of the prayer he said, “Lord, and don’t forget that poor old man standing at the door — but Lord, I forgot that man is none of my business!”

SELFISHNESS

What an image that woman had made for her son. Then we wonder why we live in a day of selfishness and unconcern. This is the reason. We teach our children that life is a matter of being concerned only about themselves and that man who, for some reason, has failed to adjust himself to the demands of life is left standing out in the cold.

If life is going to mean anything to us, there must be some high and noble objectives. Only to the extent that we are able to tie ourselves on to some worthwhile objective will our lives be worthwhile.

Behind every step we take should be definite reason — a real motive. This motive can never be realized until we are exposed to something that is worthwhile. This little boy saw the old man standing at the door. To him, it was an opportunity to make a heart happy. To any well-meaning person it would have meant the same.

OPPORTUNITIES

Life is a matter of interpretation. We must see things going on about us and recognize them as opportunities to make real images through our activities. In this day and time it is imperative that we do all that we can to be sources of hope and concern for those about us. This little boy was so moved by the sight of this neglected man that he asked his mother to give the man something.

The story did not end there. After he had removed himself from the influence of his mother, he once again — in an hour of prayer — thought of the old man.

In each of our lives there should be something in the quiet hours that should make us re-examine our position and attitudes. There should be something that should make us want to reach out and see if our lives are really as purposeful as they should be.

It was under such influence that Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” If life has any real meaning for any of us, that meaning is wrapped up in the good that we have done — and are doing — for those about is.

Any person who can look back over his life and see nothing that he has done for someone else has lived a meaningless life.