When Are We Alive?

The following devotion is taken from Roy L. Smith’s “Sidewalk Sermons.” This book becomes more interesting when you realize it was written in 1938!

Dr. Merton S. Rice, of Detroit, tells a strange story of a murder trial somewhere in the West. A man had been found dead in an alley with all the circumstantial evidence pointing to a certain individual as the murderer.

When brought to trial, the accused man made no effort to prove his innocence, but demanded that his accusers prove that the dead man had ever been alive. Then it developed that no one in the town had ever seen him alive. His name was unknown and nothing could be found upon the body to establish its identity. That he was dead everyone could see. That he had been alive no one could prove. On this flimsy and fanciful defense the accused man was acquitted.

Other men, besides this unfortunate victim, have left little proof that they have ever been alive, too. Living in a community which supported churches for the moral uplift and the religious instruction and inspiration of the people, they never contributed or assisted in the work in any way.

In all the world there is no youth who was inspired by them to go to college, learn a trade, start a savings account, or overcome a bad habit. They filled up no mud holes in the road, warned no traveler of danger down the way, and took no pains to be useful to any other citizen.

Of course they attended to their own business – but to nothing else.
They never started scandals nor stopped them. They never helped elect good men to office, nor did they make trouble for the officers of the law. They died, leaving neither debts nor bequests for charity. They never made any enemies because they never made any friends.

An old Scotchman years ago was accustomed to pray, “Lord, keep me alive as long as I live.”

Jesus once said, “A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth.” Then a little later he remarked, “Let him who would be greatest among you be servant of all.” To the Master the real test of life is the measure of helpfulness we bring to the community.

To be alive does not consist of owning something upon which we must pay taxes, but in being something which makes us so useful that we cannot disappear without being missed.

Have you made yourself so useful today that you could not disappear without being missed?