240

THE BORROWED AXE.

CLXV.

JHE PORROWED PRE.

@\|NE day, the sons of the
| prophets came to Elisha,
and said, “The place where
we live is too little for us;
we want more room. Let
us go now to Jordan, and cut down
wood, and make a place there where
we may dwell.” Elisha answered,
“Yes, go.” Then one of them said,
“Come with us;’ so Elisha arose
and went with them to Jordan. These
good people all loved one another
very much. The sons of the pro-
phets honored Elisha as their mas-
ter and teacher, and he loved and
took care of them as his children
and disciples. How pleasant it
is to live in love one with another!
All God’s people ought to live go,
for it is the command of Christ.
The people of the world fight and
quarrel with one another, because
Satan is their master, and he teaches
them to be as himself, full of anger,
and hatred and jealousy. But the
people of God must not be like
them. Their master, Jesus Christ,
was meek, and gentle, and kind, and
forgiving; and He tells His ser-
vants to be so too. He says, “By
this shall all men know that ye are
my disciples, if ye have love one to
another.” John xiii. 35.

Elisha and the sons of the prophets
went to Jordan. There were a great
many of them. God had multiplied
them very much. He can take care
of His people, and make them in-
crease, even when their enemies try
to persecute and destroy them.
The sons of the prophets were poor;
but they were very happy, because

 

 

 

God’s love and blessing rested upon
them. When they came to Jordan,
they all began to cut down wood.
Not one was idle; for they knew
how wrong it is to be idle. The
Bible tells us not to be slothful;
but to do what we have to do, with
all our might, and strength, and
power. While the sons of the pro-
phets were cutting down the wood
near the river, an accident happened.
The iron head of the axe of one of
the men fell into the water, and
sank to the bottom. The poor man
ran to Elisha, and cried, “ Alas,
master, for it was borrowed.” The
man was right to be sorry. This
showed that he was not selfish ;
he did not say, “The axe is not
mine, and I do not care for my
friend’s loss.” No; he knew that
it is right to take great care of the
things which belong to other people,
and to return them honestly and
thankfully. “The wicked borrow-
eth, and payeth not again;” but
good people always return what is
leht to them.

Did Elisha help the poor man?
Did he give him a new axe, or
money to buy one? No; Elisha
was poor also; he had no new axe,
and no money to give. What could
be done? Elisha asked the man
where the axe-head had fallen. The
man showed him the place, and
then Elisha cut down a stick, and
threw it in there. And what hap-
pened? The heavy iron, which
had sunk to the bottom of the
river, now rose to the top, and swam
upon the water like wood. Then