Sadhu Sundar Singh lived for others


Sadhu lived for others


Sadhu had kept a black velvet scarf on which were stitched in scarlet the words, “Christ came to save sinners”. He was wearing it for three years. He bestowed this upon an interpreter who translated his messages from Hindi. This give became a most treasured possession for the interpreter.

He spent several days in Kolhapur, Maharasthra State, India, and among the many invitations he received was one to listen to the boarders in a girl’s hostel singing Christian lyrics, in the open air for three nights. It was quite cold, and he sat there, Sundar wrapped himself round in a cotton shawl he always carried with him. The girls noticed this, and the following night, presented him with a warm and expensive shawl. They had clubbed their monies together for buying it and he accepted it gratefully and graciously, wrapping it round himself immediately. He appeared with the shawl the following night, too, for the final occasion. However, as he and his interpreter were on their way home, they saw an old man in tatters, trying to warm him by a fire. Sadhu Sundar Singh stopped, looked at him, and then wrapped the shawl around the old man. “He needs it more than I do” was the only explanation Sadhu gave.

Sadhu did not keep things for himself, and refused gifts of money. All he would accept was the train ticket to his next destination. On One occasion, when a gift of Rs.25/- was handed to him as he boarded the train. He politely handed it back, saying he did not need it. But his friends determined to give it to him, and threw the packet into his carriage as the train was starting.

Sadhu Sundar Singh did not keep it for long. At one of the train stops, a beggar, shivering in his tattered clothes, came along the station platform and stood with a skinny hand held out at the carriage door. Sundar looked at the man for a short while, lifted the packet of money and put it into his hands, to his great amazement.

Sadhu strongly objected to collections of money being taken to defray his expenses at any of the meetings he attended.