I’ve always admired Dwight Moody as a tremendous example of Christ’s teaching to His disciples that “whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave” (Matthew 19:26-27). Here are two instructive instances of Moody living out that principle.

Moody (1837-1899) became the world’s preeminent evangelist of his day, carrying out extensive evangelistic campaigns on both sides of the Atlantic. He also founded three schools, including Moody Bible Institute (Chicago), as well as a popular summer Bible conference in his hometown of Northfield, Massachusetts.

One morning Moody arose somewhat earlier than normal to prepare an address for the summer students’ conference being held in Northfield. Going to the window to see what the weather was like, he spotted a young man carrying a heavy traveling bag. The student was obviously headed toward the depot, two miles away, to catch the early morning train.

Moody started to read his Bible but found himself unable to concentrate. He kept thinking about the young man trudging along with the heavy valise. He found himself wondering if the student had given the quarter it would have cost him to ride to the train station in the previous day’s offering—an offering collected at Moody’s request.

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