“How Much for your Money?” is an article from Dr. Gordon H. Clark’s papers. Both the original scan and a transcribed document are here made available.
**Items from the unpublished papers of Dr. Gordon H. Clark should not be considered his definitive statement on the particular topic addressed. These papers are being provided for educational value. For Dr. Clark’s official positions consult his published writings.**
Unpublished 68. How Much for your Money? (original)
Unpublished 68. How Much for your Money? (typed)
Notes: From the papers of Dr. Gordon H. Clark. From “The Home Evangel”, April, 1949, Vol. 10, No. 4.
HOW MUCH FOR YOUR MONEY?
A country boy whose recreations were limited asked his father if he might go to the circus. Permission was granted on the condition that the boy save his pennies and nickels to pay his own way. Money was hard to get, but finally the boy saved fifty cents and went off to the big town to see the circus.
Standing on the sidewalk with the crowd, he heard the shrill calliope in the distance. He was tense with excitement. Behind the gaudy music came wagons with animals. It was a great sight to a country lad. And as the procession passed, some clowns cut up capers along the street. One of them came near the boy, held out his hat, and the boy dropped in his fifty cents. It had been worth it.
He went home happy, thinking he had seen the circus, when he had only seen the parade. And there are many people who spend their money and spend their lives happily on the passing show and never see the real thing. Too late they will learn what they have missed. But now they are satisfied with the pleasure of the moment, and do not realize that this parade, often clownish, is a preparation for an eternal future that may turn out to be a bitter disappointment.
“WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT A MAN IF HE GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD AND LOSE HIS OWN SOUL?”
G.H.C