Pastors Blog

Watchman Nee’s Rice Water Story –

There is a rice water story, commonly shared by Watchman Nee – a prominent 20th-century Chinese Christian teacher – which is a famous testimony regarding Christian love, sacrifice and overcoming evil with good.

A Christian farmer in South China had a rice paddy located on a hillside. He spent hours daily using a leg-operated water-wheel to pump water from an irrigation channel into his field. However, a neighbouring farmer would, at night, remove the boards that kept the water in the Christian’s field, causing it to drain into his own field below.

The Christian farmer faced this theft daily. His fields were drying out, and his family’s livelihood was at risk. He experienced anger and considered guarding his field, but felt compelled to act in a Christlike manner.

Seeking advice, the farmer was told that he had not gone the full length in his witness. The next morning, the Christian woke up early and filled his neighbour’s field with water first and only then did he fill his own.

The neighbour was overwhelmed by this selfless act of service. Within a few weeks, the neighbour was converted and both fields prospered.

Watchman Nee’s hymn

Let me love and not be respected;
Let me serve and not be rewarded;
Let me labour and not be remembered;
Let me suffer and not be regarded.

’Tis the pouring, not the drinking;
’Tis the breaking, not the keeping—
A life suff’ring to seek others’ blessing,
A life loving and true comfort giving.

Not expecting pity or concern,
Not accepting solace or praise;
Even lonely, even forgotten;
Even wordless, even forsaken.

Tears and blood for the righteous crown
My price shall be; losing all,
My cost for a faithful pilgrim’s life.
’Twas the life, O Lord, that You chose to live
In those days when on earth You walked,
Gladly suff’ring all injuries and loss
So that all might draw near and repose.

I cannot see how much farther I shall go;
Still I press on, knowing there is no return.
Let me follow Your pattern, so perfect and true,
Bearing all gratefully without complaint.

In this time of trial, O my Lord,
I pray that You would wipe my hidden tears away;
Let me learn, O Lord, You are my reward;
Let me be others’ blessing all my days.

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