God Is Gracious

Many years ago, in Chicago, Joseph Kratzle, a service elevator operator in an apartment house, recovered two checks for $114,000 that had been lost by the tenant in the apartment house where he worked. His reward was a fifteen-cent tip and a solicitous offer to put iodine on the cuts on his hands that he received while searching through fourteen trash bags and garbage cans. The job took three hours, he said. Mr. Kratzle accepted the fifteen cents. But declined the offer of first aid. He administered his own treatment when he returned to the basement from the tenant’s apartment. The checks were in envelopes that had been placed by error with a bundle of letters to be discarded.

It was not Mr. Kratzle’s first experience at finding valuables. Years before, when he had been employed as a window cleaner, he was working in the Federal Reserve Bank, and found a package on the floor. It contained $83,000 in cash. That adventure was more profitable. The president of the bank gave Mr. Kratzle twenty-five dollars.

God is not so tight in giving out rewards!

Moreover, by them (the judgments of the Lord) is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward (Psalm 19:11).

For the Lord is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11).

The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward (Proverbs 11:18).

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be (Revelation 22:12).

~Author Unknown~