There is a story of a person who offered a rice cake made of soil to a Buddha and attained Buddhahood as a result. Conversely, there is also the story of a person who donated a jewel but went to hell. The difference between the two appears to be in the timing.

Since my birth in Japan I have never deceived anyone, stolen anything, or committed any sinful deed. As a priest in the Latter Age of Degeneration I have committed few errors. Nevertheless, I was despised both by the ruler and the people in the same way a literary ruler disregards the military arts or a garish person hates the faithful, because I propagated the Lotus Sūtra in a world where Pure Land, Zen, Shingon (True Word), and Precept Buddhism were widely believed. In the end, finding no place among the people in the street, I retreated into the mountain. I wonder how Heaven will treat me hereafter. The five-foot deep snow-covered mountain path, which normally has no traffic, makes it impossible for anyone to visit me here. My clothing is not thick enough to protect me against the freezing weather. My food supply is gone, and I am at the end of my life.

It was just at this time that I received your gift as if to prevent my decision to face death. I felt both happy and sad when I received it because I had just made up my mind to die of hunger once and for all, but your gift of polished rice was like adding oil to a light that was about to burn out. It was indeed a precious and wonderful offering of yours. Śākyamuni Buddha and the Lotus Sūtra will never fail to extend their divine protection to you.

Ueno-dono Gohenji, Reply to Lord Ueno, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Volume 7, Followers II, Page 35