"I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food".

Few people have loved God's Word as Job did. But some have. Their names are often well-known in the Christian world--and much admired. I think of David, who "rejoiced in (God's) word as one who finds great spoil". Of Jeremiah who cried, "His word was in my heart as a burning fire shut up within my bones". Of Ezra who "prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statues in Israel". Or, of those pilgrims scattered throughout Asia, who "as newborn babes, desired the sincere milk of the word that they might grow thereby".

But this love is not confined to people found in the Bible. It has burned in every subsequent age, too. Luther had it: "My conscience is bound to the Word of God...I cannot do otherwise. Here I stand. God help me. Amen." So did John Bunyan, about whom, it was joked, "When cut, he bled Bibline". And how can we forget William Carey, slaving away in his study, translating the Scripture into more than forty Indian dialects? All of these men loved the Scripture.

But they were extraordinary in more ways than one, weren't they? They were patriarchs and prophets, reformers and missionaries. Possessed of brilliant minds and much learning. Hence, reading their lives will produce more admiration than imitation. But this is not the only kind of person in whose heart God has kindled a love for His word. Lesser people have had it, too. People of limited education and modest achievement. Ordinary men, women, and children.

One of these "ordinary" people is the subject of today's lecture. The name is unknown; the work unimportant. But within this believer's soul burned a love for God's Word second to none but Jesus. The name? Mary Jones.

Mary Jones was born, 1784, in Llanfihangel, Wales. Her parents, Jacob and Molly, were poor in everything but good works. A weaver by training, the father worked long hours to keep food on the table and a thatched roof over the heads of his wife and young children. They, too had to contribute to the family fortune. Molly worked alongside her husband behind the loom; and the children--especially Mary their eldest--cooked, tended the garden, collected the eggs, kept the beehives, and cared for the cottage.

This left little time for fun and games. But there was always time for "the one thing needful". The Jones family was faithful to the Calvinistic Methodist Church in their village. This denomination was born in the Great Awakening of 1730 and thereabouts. Its leading figure was George Whitefield. But in Wales, Howell Harris and Daniel Rowland were better known. And later, Thomas Charles. The theology of these men can be neatly summed up as Biblical, Calvinistic, and Experimental. The people loved God's Word, bowed to His sovereignty, and felt no assurance till they discovered "the life of God in the soul of man".

This family's religion, however, was not limited to church-going. It penetrated and directed every aspect of their lives. The Jones' were well respected for their hard work, contentment, generosity, and spiritual conversation. And Mary--from childhood--shared in the family's character and faith. By the age of six, she was highly thought-of by the Christians of her village. By this young age, her parents called her "Our little woman".

But there were two things missing in the life of Mary Jones, two things this otherwise contented girl wanted more than life itself: the ability to read and a Bible to read. But neither were easy to come by in the Wales of 200 years ago. At the age of ten, Mary Jones had never been to school. Nor could her parents provide much help. Why? Because they were barely literate themselves--and more to the point--didn't own a book!

But there was a glimmer of hope. There was a nearby farmer named Mr. Evans. He and his wife were devout Christians, too. And--better still--owned a Welsh Bible. Mrs. Evans offered Mary the use of it as soon as she learned to read.

But how? There were no schools in the area; no teachers; and no time to do anyhting but work. Thus, Mary's "hope" seemed more like "wishful thinking". But she committed this care, like all others, to the Lord. And before long, He sent the answer.

A school was opened in Abergynolwyn, a village two miles from Mary's. She was still much needed at home, but her parents sacrificed for their daughter. She was enrolled and soon proved worthy of their investment. Within a few months the illiterate girl became the academy's prized pupil. Her studies were attacked with vigor. Her character remained pure. And even her work at home did not suffer. She simply got up earlier, stayed up later, and worked harder so that her academic load would not disrupt the family.

And so now--at long last--Mary was able to take up the offer of Mrs. Evans. One Saturday afternoon, she appeared at the farm house and asked to be admitted. She was sent to the parlour and shown the family Bible, which lay under a white linen on the table. With trembling hands, Mary lifted the napkin, folded it neatly, and opened the Sacred Book. She turned to the fifth chapter of John, where her eyes lit on this verse: "Search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and they are they which testify of Me". Mary thought this was the next thing to a direct revelation. Right then and there, she committed herself to obey Christ in this commandment--whatever the cost. She would "search the Scripture".

And so she did, every Saturday afternoon at the Evans' home. But this weekly reading was not enough. Mary Jones had to have a Bible of her own. She just had to!

But how would she get one? Her family was poor. And Welsh Bibles were rare and expensive. What would she do? She prayed. And prayed. And prayed some more.

But she didn't leave it here. She would not only ask for a Bible; she would work for one. And so, in addition to her schoolwork and chores, she sought odd-jobs among her neighbors; baby-sitting, sewing, picking up sticks for firewood, and so on. Mrs. Evans had also given her a fine hen, whose eggs she could sell. These little jobs paid little. A half-penny was her usual return. But she would take the coin and put it in a clay bank her father had made for her. And so it went. Day after day. Week after week. Month after month. Her labors never waned, nor was any of the money "borrowed" for other uses. Six years of saving was required to gather the price of the Bible. And so now--at age 16--Mary Jones would have her Bible--or so she hoped.

Welsh Bibles--as I said--were not only expensive, but also rare. There was only one place to get them, from Mr. Charles in Bala. But Bala was 25 miles away. And the Jones family had no horse. Hence, Mary could only obtain her prize the old fashioned way: by walking. And so she did, winding her way through the Welsh mountain country, barefooted. At last she arrived at her destination.

But Mr. Charles was already in bed. Mary must wait another day for her prize. She lodged that night in the home of David Edwards, an aged and esteemed Methodist preacher. After reciting a chapter in the Bible and offering an earnest prayer, Mary dropped into her bed, exhausted.

From this deep sleep she was awakened at dawn. Mr. Edwards escorted the young lady to the home of Thomas Charles, knocked, and explained to his friend the purpose of her mission, Mary all the while staring into the great man's face with hope and expectation born of faith.

But then, she saw a troubled look cross the pastor's face. He symapthized with Mary; admired her. But all of the Bibles in his possession were pre-sold or promised to others. There were no Welsh Bibles to be had at his home...or anywhere else.

Mary burst into tears. Rivers were pouring down her sunburned cheeks; her sobs had lost all control. She was crying like the Judean mothers of old:

"Lamentation, weeping,

and great mourning"

The Rev. Charles was overcome: "My dear child, I see you must have a Bible, difficult as it is for me to spare you one. It is impossible, yes, simply impossible to refuse you".

Mary looked up and continued to cry, this time, though, for joy. The Bible she had so longed for, would be her's at last. Charles opened a cabinet behind him, took out the Welsh Bible and handed it to the young lady who had worked so hard and suffered so much to have it. It was now hers!

In handing her the prized possession, Charles also offered some advice: "If you, my dear girl, are glad to recieve this Bible, truly glad am I to be able to give it to you. Read it carefully, study it diligently, treasure up the sacred words in your memory, and act up to its teaching".

Mary would follow his counsel "exceeding, abundantly above all that he asked or thought". She kept that Bible for the next sixty-six years; read it daily; memorized many chapters and some whole books, and lived an exemplary Christian life, first in her parents' family and later as a wife and mother of eight children.

She never escaped the poverty of her childhood. She married Thomas Lewis, a weaver as her father had been. But this was of no concern to her; for Mary's treasure lay elsewhwere, "where moths and rust do not corrupt and thieves can't break through and steal".

But the pattern set in childhood served her well in adult life. Piety, hard work, wisdom, and generosity marked her new home as it had her old. Though desperately poor, the Lewis family gave much to promote God's cause in the world. But how did they do it? Where did they find the money? Well, a friend of Mary's, Betsy Davies, asked just that. Mary told her: "It's like this, Betsy dear, we ask ourselves--I mean my husband and my children, and I, all of us--what can we do without? And one and another is willing to give up some little indulgence, and so we save the money. This we put into a box we call the treasury, and whenever we add anything to it, we think of the widow who cast into the treasury of the temple her two mites, and of the Lord's kind, tender words about her".

Mr. Lewis sacrificed his nightly smoke to support missions. A daughter went without a new hat ribbon. A son sold a Christmas box his master had given him. And the toddler picked up sticks and sold them for a penny.

And so, Mary Jones learned a lesson few of us know: "Godliness with contentment is great gain".

But did anything come of her life? Outside of her family and village, of course. Yes. Much. Thomas Charles was so impressed with her love for Scripture that he and others founded the British and Foreign Bible Society, a ministry (still in existence) that has distributed millions of Bibles worldwide for nearly 200 years now.

How many have been converted from reading these Bibles? How many edified? How many families set on the straight and narrow? How many churches founded? How much good has come of this endeavor will only be known on the Day of Judgment. But surely, much. This "mustard seed" has grown into "the greatest of all trees".

And, although God receives all glory for what He does; we must mark those He has used. And they are legion. Good men from every Evangelical Church have supported the work of Bible translation and distribution. But standing behind them all is a sixteen year old girl, with bronzed cheeks, windblown hair, and calloused feet, crying for a Bible: Mary Jones.

What lessons to be learned from Mary's life?