It is told of an Eastern king how, planning to visit a remote
part of his kingdom, he sent ahead a trusted minister to build
for his royal master a suitable palace to live in. When the
royal courier reached the end of his journey he found a plague
raging and the people dying by thousands. So instead of building
the contemplated palace, he took the money and spent it in
medicine and bread for the poor sufferers, dug graves and buried
the dead, and bought clothing to protect the living. When the
king came on and found what was done, instead of punishing his
minister he commended him, saying, “Oh, faithful servant, you
have builded for me a palace in the hearts of my people--built
it out of the tombstones which you have erected over the graves
of the dead; jeweled it with the tears you have wiped away, made
it echo with songs out of the sobs which you have stilled.”
These servants followed the spirit of the king’s command, not the
letter. Will not God be well pleased with a similar obedience from His
children? (Text.)
(2218)
=Object-preaching=--See SERMON, SAVING A.