# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1911 06 13_S193
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

193

people. That was not so. You saved up your thanks for only twenty-five years. Forgive me! A small portion of it would often have encouraged me in a time of much emotional strain. I had to do without it. I strove daily to do my work for God and not for men. Yet I was a man. A recognizing, friendly word would have done me good. I hear you want to give me a gold watch. I fear it will only show me my hour of death. Sell it, chain and all — it never suited me anyway — and get instead the biblical picture-work I have wished for so long. Children, do not forget! God be with you!"

It was a sad walk home. Oh, he was such a good teacher! Our children learned so much! And they were so well-behaved and disciplined in everything! And we never thanked him for it! And that would have done him good. It would have encouraged him, perhaps even lengthened his life. Oh, if only he had lived at least through this summer! Yes, even just until tomorrow. Then he would have heard how grateful we are to him! Then he would have seen the gold watch after all!

From "Knüppel und Knorren."

"God is not mocked!"

In the early eighteen-seventies a timber merchant from Franconia traveled into Old Bavaria to buy timber. When he had bought a ticket at the counter of his local railway station, the stationmaster shook his hand and said, "Now travel with God!" To which the departing man replied with a shrug, "Ah, what for, when things are well arranged" — pointing to his well-filled money pouch — "then one does not need the old God for traveling." That was a wicked word, and it did not please the railway official concerned either; he let the man go on his way without further answer, but with a sorrowful look.

Two days later one read in the newspapers that in a forest between M. and T. in Upper Bavaria a businessman from Franconia had been attacked by a robber-murderer and severely wounded in the head by a pistol shot.

Who was the man attacked? Our timber merchant! Lured by the well-filled money pouch, which had often been boastfully displayed on the train, a companion and guide through the forest he had to cross had offered himself to the businessman, and without warning fired a bullet into the head of the man under his protection. The man who was struck did manage to put his attacker to flight, but then collapsed, and only after a long time, barely healed, returned to his homeland suffering and disfigured, and a long illness put an end to the life of this man, still in the prime of his years. A grievous time of suffering was needed to soften this hard heart and lead it to the "old God" whom he had once preferred his money pouch to, but he found Him after all, and as far as men could see, went home reconciled with his Creator and Redeemer!

What God's Word Is Good For.

That is clearly written in 2 Tim. 3:16, namely "for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness." Does it also say there, "for bad jokes"? Many seem to remember a Bible verse only when they want to make a joke. For instance, I walk past a new building with a casual acquaintance and marvel at the many apartments in it. "Yes," says my companion, "that is already in the Bible: 'In my Father's house are many mansions!'" Someone advertises his sugar, and indeed, the man has printed above it in half-inch letters: "Prove all things and hold fast that which is good!" Another time I am sitting at table with a company, and since some guests failed to appear, those at the lower end must move up. At once someone on one side says, "Friend, move up higher!" and on the other side: "Whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

That is a small bouquet; every reader will surely be able to add to it from his own experience.

"But that is harmless and not meant unkindly at all!" I hear someone say.

That may well often be true. But it is nevertheless very much an evil! Such a "joke" sticks like a stain to God's Word and remains linked with it in memory. So the matter is not as harmless as it looks. Besides, how does this ugly habit square with the Third Commandment?

God's Word should be too holy to a Christian for him to misuse it for bad jokes.

Not a Rare Occurrence.

Old Father Ulrich was no longer wise enough for young Frieder, and nothing he did or advised was right anymore. "Father! We no longer suit each other," said young Frieder. "You are far too good and are spoiling my children for me, and you cannot put yourself in my situation or in the situation of this world. Just give me enough that I can build a little house next to yours — we still want to live in friendship." So I gave it to him, and he built a little house; into it I gave him a Bible as a gift, for I had nothing else to give him. As he left, the mother said to him: "God bless your new little house, Frieder! You now want to part from your father and your mother; but do not depart from God's Word, and all will yet go well, whether you live with your mother or alone." And so it happened. Two days later Frieder's Elisabeth injured herself, and Frieder ran to old Father Ulrich and got oil and wine for the wound, and the father gave it to him. Two weeks later Frieder's two oldest boys behaved so badly toward Frieder that he could not manage them. So he fetched old Father Ulrich, who spoke a few friendly words, and they went to Frieder and asked his forgiveness. Afterward young Frieder thanked him for it. "Father," he said, "it would have been better had I stayed with you. I thought I could handle things more cleverly than you, and so I fell into other mistakes, often worse than yours! Shall we not move back together?"

Promise and Strength.

An old church father prayed: Lord, give us what You demand, and then demand what You will! And this prayer has been fulfilled in him and in countless others. He gives strength first, and only then does He make demands. Even the nearness of a person can sometimes give great strength. What heroic deeds a soldier performs under the eyes of his king! A man accomplishes almost superhuman feats when he looks upon his wife and children. Only now