Article January 4, 1930 Issue

Charity

NINA DE GROFF

In the twentieth chapter of Acts is recorded a healing which brings a deep sense of gratitude for the selflessness and pure humanity there expressed. We read, "And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead."

How prone we are to feel that for one not to be mentally alert when spiritual truths are being expressed, especially where we ourselves are concerned, is for him a grievous error! Did Paul have this sense concerning Eutychus? Was he offended by the young man's inattention? No; Paul stopped his preaching, went down to the young man, "and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. ... And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted." Paul did not reproach Eutychus for not having been alert. Instead, he proved for him the truth he had been expounding, and then went on again about his Father's business, breaking bread and talking to his followers until daybreak.

Paul knew the frailties of mortal belief. He himself suffered unjust accusation, imprisonment, shipwreck, and persecution. He had "a thorn in the flesh" which he had besought the Lord three times to take from him; and the answer had come, "My grace is sufficient for thee." Battling with his own weakness he had learned to be patient with others. His brother's way would not be made harder by his placing any stumblingblock of uncharitable thinking in the path.

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