By the Rev. Thomas M. Boles, PhD. DMin. D.D.

Two brothers farmed together. They lived in separate houses on
the family farm, but met each day in the fields to work together.

One brother married and had a large family. The other lived alone. Still,they divided the harvest from the fields equally.

One night the single brother thought, my brother is struggling
to support a large family, but I get half of the harvest. With love in his heart, he gathered a box of things he had purchased from his earnings, items he knew would help his brother’s family. He planned to slip over to his brother’s shed, unload the basket there, and never say a word about it.

That same night, the married brother thought, my brother is
alone. He doesn’t know the joys of a family. Out of love, he decided to take over a basket with a quilt and homemade bread and preserves to “warm” his brother’s house. He planned to leave the items on his porch and never say a word.

As the brothers stealthily made their way to each other’s home,
they bumped into one other. They were forced to admit to what they were doing and there in the darkness, they cried and embraced, each man realizing that his greatest wealth was a brother who respected and loved him.

We make a living by what we get,
we make a life by what we give.

I have shewed you all things, how that so
labouring ye ought to support the weak,
and to remember the words of the Lord
Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to
give than to receive.

Acts 20:35