A Definite Call for a Definite Purpose
By W. M. ADAMS
SEVERAL years ago the annual-offering plan was established among our people. It was devised to meet the pressing calls from home and foreign fields, but especially the latter. It has resulted in great good to our people, and has enabled the truth to find its way into the darkest corners of the earth. As a result hundreds are now rejoicing in the truths of the last message. What heart is there that has not thrilled with joy as tidings came through the good old REVIEW, and other agencies, of souls won from the darkest of heathenism to an intelligent knowledge and faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? Can we think for a moment that our prayers and offerings have been to no avail?—No, no. When we see the self-sacrificing spirit of our missionaries and the eagerness of benighted souls to learn the sweet name, Jesus, do we think that we have given too liberally for such a cause? Do we sometimes feel chafed when the call comes repeatedly, Give, give, give? Let us look for a moment at what is involved in the principle of giving. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.” Jesus Christ “gave himself for our sins;” and when he left the earth, he “gave gifts unto men.” “The Lord will give strength unto his people.” “The Lord will give grace and glory.” “And I give unto them eternal life,” says God. When we fall into transgression, we go to God and say, “O Lord, for Jesus’ sake for-give us our sins.” What does that mean?—It simply means “give for” our sins. What has God to “give for” our sins?—The life of Jesus, which is righteousness—right doing. Then every time we are for-given our sins, God is giving, and we are receiving. O, how sublime the thought that salvation is wrapped up in giving! It is give, give, GIVE, to us poor mortals. That is what salvation means. If God should cease to give, we should lose eternal life, and this temporal life also—we should lose all. He gives that we may give, and every one who has tasted of salvation can not help but give. We will give ourselves, our talents, our time, our money, our all. “But how much shall I give?” says one. “If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” “God loveth a cheerful giver.” Last year the annual offering amounted to a little over forty thousand dollars, but it was not sufficient to meet the demands. Cries for help are increasing from every field. Shall we not heartily respond to these calls by doubling the amount given last year? Surely we can say, “Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine. . . . Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all. . . . But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort [$80,000]?” The answer is, “For all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.” 1 Chron. 29:11-14. “Freely ye have received, freely give.”