the acts of the apostles-第47章

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no　occasion　to　resort　to　fairs；　lotteries；　or　parties　of　pleasure　to　secure
funds　for　the　support　of　the　gospel。

Men　are　tempted　to　use　their　means　in　self…indulgence；　in　the　gratification
of　appetite；　in　personal　adornment；　or　in　the　embellishment　of　their　homes。
For　these　objects　many　church　members　do　not　hesitate　to　spend　freely　and
even　extravagantly。　But　when　asked　to　give　to　the　Lord's　treasury；　to　carry
forward　His　work　in　the　earth；　they　demur。　Perhaps；　feeling　that　they　cannot
well　do　otherwise；　they　dole　out　a　sum　far　smaller　than　they　often　spend　for
needless　indulgence。　They　manifest　no　real　love　for　Christ's　service；　no
earnest　interest　in　the　salvation　of　souls。　What　marvel　that　the　Christian
life　of　such　ones　is　but　a　dwarfed；　sickly　existence！

He　whose　heart　is　aglow　with　the　love　of　Christ　will　regard　it　as　not　only　a
duty；　but　a　pleasure；　to　aid　in　the

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advancement　of　the　highest；　holiest　work　committed　to　man　the　work　of
presenting　to　the　world　the　riches　of　goodness；　mercy；　and　truth。

It　is　the　spirit　of　covetousness　which　leads　men　to　keep　for　gratification
of　self　means　that　rightfully　belong　to　God；　and　this　spirit　is　as　abhorrent
to　Him　now　as　when　through　His　prophet　He　sternly　rebuked　His　people；
saying；　〃Will　a　man　rob　God？　Yet　ye　have　robbed　Me。　But　ye　say；　Wherein　have
we　robbed　Thee？　In　tithes　and　offerings。　Ye　are　cursed　with　a　curse：　for　ye
have　robbed　Me；　even　this　whole　nation。〃　Malachi　3：8；　9。

The　spirit　of　liberality　is　the　spirit　of　heaven。　This　spirit　finds　its
highest　manifestation　in　Christ's　sacrifice　on　the　cross。　In　our　behalf　the
Father　gave　His　only…begotten　Son；　and　Christ；　having　given　up　all　that　He
had；　then　gave　Himself；　that　man　might　be　saved。　The　cross　of　Calvary　should
appeal　to　the　benevolence　of　every　follower　of　the　Saviour。　The　principle
there　illustrated　is　to　give；　give。　〃He　that　saith　he　abideth　in　Him　ought
himself　also　so　to　walk；　even　as　He　walked。〃　1　John　2：6。

On　the　other　hand；　the　spirit　of　selfishness　is　the　spirit　of　Satan。　The
principle　illustrated　in　the　lives　of　worldlings　is　to　get；　get。　Thus　they
hope　to　secure　happiness　and　ease；　but　the　fruit　of　their　sowing　is　misery
and　death。

Not　until　God　ceases　to　bless　His　children　will　they　cease　to　be　under　bonds
to　return　to　Him　the　portion　that　He　claims。　Not　only　should　they　render　the
Lord　the　portion　that　belongs　to　Him；　but　they　should　bring　also　to　His

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treasury；　as　a　gratitude　offering；　a　liberal　tribute。　With　joyful　hearts
they　should　dedicate　to　the　Creator　the　first　fruits　of　their
bountiestheir　choicest　possessions；　their　best　and　holiest　service。　Thus
they　will　gain　rich　blessings。　God　Himself　will　make　their　souls　like　a
watered　garden　whose　waters　fail　not。　And　when　the　last　great　harvest　is
gathered　in；　the　sheaves　that　they　are　enabled　to　bring　to　the　Master　will
be　the　recompense　of　their　unselfish　use　of　the　talents　lent　them。

God's　chosen　messengers；　who　are　engaged　in　aggressive　labor；　should　never
be　compelled　to　go　a　warfare　at　their　own　charges；　unaided　by　the
sympathetic　and　hearty　support　of　their　brethren。　It　is　the　part　of　church
members　to　deal　liberally　with　those　who　lay　aside　their　secular　employment
that　they　may　give　themselves　to　the　ministry。　When　God's　ministers　are
encouraged；　His　cause　is　greatly　advanced。　But　when；　through　the　selfishness
of　men；　their　rightful　support　is　withheld；　their　hands　are　weakened；　and
often　their　usefulness　is　seriously　crippled。

The　displeasure　of　God　is　kindled　against　those　who　claim　to　be　His
followers；　yet　allow　consecrated　workers　to　suffer　for　the　necessities　of
life　while　engaged　in　active　ministry。　These　selfish　ones　will　be　called　to
render　an　account；　not　only　for　the　misuse　of　their　Lord's　money；　but　for
the　depression　and　heartache　which　their　course　has　brought　upon　His
faithful　servants。　Those　who　are　called　to　the　work　of　the　ministry；　and　at
the　call　of　duty　give　up　all　to　engage　in　God's　service；　should　receive　for
their　self…sacrificing

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efforts　wages　sufficient　to　support　themselves　and　their　families。

In　the　various　departments　of　secular　labor；　mental　and　physical；　faithful
workmen　can　earn　good　wages。　Is　not　the　work　of　disseminating　truth；　and
leading　souls　to　Christ；　of　more　importance　than　any　ordinary　business？　And
are　not　those　who　faithfully　engage　in　this　work　justly　entitled　to　ample
remuneration？　By　our　estimate　of　the　relative　value　of　labor　for　moral　and
for　physical　good；　we　show　our　appreciation　of　the　heavenly　in　contrast　with
the　earthly。

That　there　may　be　funds　in　the　treasury　for　the　support　of　the　ministry；　and
to　meet　the　calls　for　assistance　in　missionary　enterprises；　it　is　necessary
that　the　people　of　God　give　cheerfully　and　liberally。　A　solemn
responsibility　rests　upon　ministers　to　keep　before　the　churches　the　needs　of
the　cause　of　God　and　to　educate　them　to　be　liberal。　When　this　is　neglected；
and　the　churches　fail　to　give　for　the　necessities　of　others；　not　only　does
the　work　of　the　Lord　suffer；　but　the　blessing　that　should　come　to　believers
is　withheld。

Even　the　very　poor　should　bring　their　offerings　to　God。　They　are　to　be
sharers　of　the　grace　of　Christ　by　denying　self　to　help　those　whose　need　is
more　pressing　than　their　own。　The　poor　man's　gift；　the　fruit　of　self…denial；
comes　up　before　God　as　fragrant　incense。　And　every　act　of　self…sacrifice
strengthens　the　spirit　of　beneficence　in　the　giver's　heart；　allying　him　more
closely　to　the　One　who　was　rich；　yet　for　our　sakes　became　poor；　that　we
through　His　poverty　might　be　rich。

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The　act　of　the　widow　who　cast　two　mitesall　that　she　hadinto　the
treasury；　is　placed　on　record　for　the　encouragement　of　those　who；　struggling
with　poverty；　still　desire　by　their　gifts　to　aid　the　cause　of　God。　Christ
called　the　attention　of　the　disciples　to　this　woman；　who　had　given　〃all　her
living。〃　Mark　12：44。　He　esteemed　her　gift　of　more　value　than　the　large
offerings　of　those　whose　alms　did　not　call　for　self…denial。　From　their
abundance　they　had　given　a　small　portion。　To　make　her　offering；　the　widow
had　deprived　herself　of　even　the　necessities　of　life；　trusting　God　to　supply
her　needs　for　the　morrow。　Of　her　the　Saviour　declared；　〃Verily　I　say　unto
you；　That　this　poor　widow　hath　cast　more　in；　than　all　they　which　have　cast
into　the　treasury。〃　Verse　43。　Thus　He　taught　that　the　value　of　the　gift　is
estimated　not　by　the　amount；　but　by　the　proportion　that　is　given　and　the
motive　that　actuates　the　giver。

The　apostle　Paul　in　his　ministry　among　the　churches　was　untiring　in　his
efforts　to　inspire　in　the　hearts　of　the　new　converts　a　desire　to　do　large
things　for　the　cause　of　God。　Often　he　exhorted　them　to　the　exercise　of
liberality。　In　speaking　to　the　elders　of　Ephesus　of　his　former　labors　among
them；　he　said；　〃I　have　showed　you　all　things；　how　that　so　laboring　ye　ought
to　support　the　weak；　and　to　remember　the　words　of　the　Lord　Jesus；　how　He
said；　It　is　more　blessed　to　give　than　to　receive。〃　〃He　which　soweth
sparingly；〃　he　wrote　to　the　Corinthians；　〃shall　reap　also　sparingly；　and　he
which　soweth　bountifully　shall　reap　also　bountifully。　Every　man　according　as
he　purposeth　in　his　heart；　so　let　him　give；

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not　grudgingly；　or　of　necessity：　for　God　loveth　a　cheerful　giver。〃　Acts
20：35；　2　Corinthians　9：6；　7。

Nearly　all　the　Macedonian　believers　were　poor　in　this　world's　goods；　but
their　hearts　were　overflowing　with　love　for　God　and　His　truth；　and　they
gladly　gave　for　the　support　of　the　gospel。　When　general　collections　were
taken　up　in　the　Gentile　churches　for　the　relief　of　the　Jewish　believers；　the
liberality　of　the　converts　in　Macedonia　was　held　up　as　an　example　to　other
churches。　Writing　to　the　Corinthian　believers；　the　apostle　called　their
attention　to　〃the　grace　of　God　bestowed　on　the　churches　of　Macedonia；　how
that　in　a　great　trial　of　affliction　the　abundance　of　their　joy　and　their
deep　poverty　abounded　unto　the　riches　of　their　liberality。　For　to　their
power；　。　。　。　yea；　and　beyond　their　power　they　were　willing　of　themselves；
praying　us　with　much　entreaty　that　we　would　receive　the　gift；　and　take　upon
us　the　fellowship　of　the　ministering　to　the　saints。〃　2　Corinthians　8：1…4。

The　willingness　to　sacrifice　on　the　part　of　the　Macedonian　believers　came　as
a　result　of　wholehearted　consecration。　Moved　by　the　Spirit　of　God；　they
〃first　gave　their　own　selves　to　the　Lord〃　（2　Corinthians　8：5）；　then　they
were　willing　to　give　freely　of　their　means　for　the　support　of　the　gospel。　It
was　not　necessary　to　urge　them　to　give；　rather；　they　rejoiced　in　the
privilege　of　denying　themselves　even　of　necessary　things　in　order　to　supply
the　needs　of　others。　When　the　apostle　would　have　restrained　them；　they
importuned　him　to　accept　their　offering。　In　their　simplicity　and　integrity；

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and　in　their　love　for　the　brethren；　they　gladly　denied　self；　and　thus
abounded　in　the　fruit　of　benevolence。

When　Paul　sent　Titus　to　Corinth　to　strengthen　the　believers　there；　he
instructed　him　to　build　up　that　church　in　the　grace　of　giving；　and　in　a
personal　letter　to　the　believers　he　also　added　his　own　appeal。　〃As　ye　abound
in　everything；〃　he　pleaded；　〃in　faith；　and　utterance；　and　knowledge；　and　in
all　diligence；　and　in　your　love　to　us；　see　that　ye　abound　in　this　grace
also；〃　〃Now　therefore　perform　the　doing　of　it；　that　as　there　was　a　readiness
to　will；　so　there　may　be　a　performance　also　out　of　that　which　ye　have。　For
if　there　be　first　a　willing　mind；　it　is　accepted　according　to　that　a　man
hath；　and　not　according　to　that　he　hath　not。〃　〃And　God　is　able　to　make　all
grace　abound　toward　you；　that　ye；　always　having　all　sufficiency　in　all
things；　may　abound　to　every　good　work：　。　。　。　。　being　enriched　in　everything
to　all　bountifulness；　which　causeth　through　us　thanksgiving　to　God。〃　2
Corinthians　8：7；　11；　12；　9：8…11。

Unselfish　liberality　threw　the　early　church　into　a　transport　of　joy；　for　the
believers　knew　that　their　efforts　were　helping　to　send　the　gospel　message　to
those　in　darkness。　Their　benevolence　testified　that　they　had　not　received
the　grace　of　God　in　vain。　What　could　produce　such　liberality　but　the
sanctification　of　the　Spirit？　In　the　eyes　of　believers　and　unbelievers　it
was　a　miracle　of　grace。

Spiritual　prosperity　is　closely　bound　up　with　Christian　liberality。　The
followers　of　Christ　should　rejoice　in　the　privilege　of　revealing　in　their
lives　the　beneficence　of　their

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Redeemer。　As　they　give　to　the　Lord　they　have　the　assurance　that　their
treasure　is　going　before　them　to　the　heavenly　courts。　Would　men　make　their
property　secure？　Let　them　place　it　in　the　hands　that　bear　the　marks　of　the
crucifixion。　Would　they　enjoy　their　substance？　Let　them　use　it　to　bless　the
needy　and　suffering。　Would　they　increase　their　possessions？　Let　them　heed
the　divine　injunction；　〃Honor　the　Lord　with　thy　substance；　and　with　the
first　fruits　of　all　thine　increase：　so