Your ShelfYour Projects

Giving

11%

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 22, 1909

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 86, No. 16.

Read the full edition

Giving

By S. J. HERSUM

S. J. HERSUM
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17.
Every gift that is good and every gift that is perfect, comes from God, and they are all given because of his love to man. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.” John 3:16. His Holy Spirit is a gift. See Rom. 5:5; 1 John 3:24. The Scriptures are a gift from the Father. 2 Tim. 3:16. Eternal life also is a gift. Rom. 6:23.
God has made his people colaborers with himself, to labor for the salvation of those for whom he made these gifts. We are “workers together with him.” 2 Cor. 6:1; 1 Cor. 3:9.
The first gift man is invited to make is his heart. “My son, give me thine heart.” Prov. 23:26. Then man is required to give of his substance; and this is to be given as he purposeth in his heart. The Lord says, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” 2 Cor. 9:7. The Lord specially blesses those who make offerings with willing hearts. In Ex. 25:2 we read: “Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.” See also Ex. 35:5, 21; 1 Chron. 29:3, 5, 9, 14.
“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.” 2 Cor. 8:12. We can see the truthfulness of this in the case of the poor widow. Christ said to his disciples, “This poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury.” Mark 12:43, 44.
As there are calls coming in for means with which to carry forward this work, our people would do well to adopt a plan of giving systematically. Plan to give to every branch as the calls come in, and God’s blessing will surely follow the cheerful giver.
Richmond, Maine.