Giving by F. M. Burg

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jun 9, 1904

Giving

By F. M. Burg

F. M. BURG

It was by giving that salvation was provided for the world. We read, “God . . . gave his only begotten Son.” John 3:16. Of Jesus it is written that he loved us, and gave himself for us. Gal. 2:20. And in the gift of the Son of God all things are freely given unto us. Rom. 8:32. And was not heaven impoverished by such abundant and unmeasured giving? Did not disappointment and regret follow when the plan was laid to purchase salvation for a guilty world at such infinite cost to God and his Son?—O, no! for we read that “for the joy that was set before him [Jesus] endured the cross, despising the shame.” Heb. 12:2. A joy and a blessing in the soul always come in proportion to the measure of unselfish giving for the highest good of others. It is the natural working of the highest law known among God’s intelligences,—the law of love. It is an experience that can be had in no other way, and is known only by those who experience it.

Have you not to a degree at least, proved these things true? How many of you have given liberally and in faith, and have not felt a blessing in your soul in much greater measure than you gave? We have all known something of it, and our “secret of a happy life” as a Christian lies right there. Our joy in the world to come will be in proportion to our experience in unselfish giving for the highest good of our fellow men—their salvation. If we enter into the joy of our Lord over there, we must share his unselfish giving for the salvation of the world.

The Lord promises unmeasured blessings on certain conditions; namely, that ye bring all the tithe into the storehouse. Mal. 3:10. All the tithes, not a part, must be brought before faith can be exercised, which makes the connection between earth and heaven, and makes it possible for the promised blessing to come. And this must be an experience of faith, else the avenue for the blessing to come is not opened. “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Rom. 14:23. Hezekiah did his work, seeking the Lord, in the service of the house of God and in the law, with all his heart, and he prospered. 2 Chron. 31:21.

The apostles had the truth, the gospel. They saw it exemplified in the Saviour’s life, and heard it taught by him. He gave them commission to go and teach the gospel to all nations, yet they lacked the one essential thing—a hold upon the arm of power. The Holy Spirit, the agent through which God operates and exercises his power on earth, must come upon them. So they were told to wait at Jerusalem for this equipment. Hence the ten days spent together in the upper room. Now note the result: “They were all of one accord.” You say that means that they were in harmony among themselves, that love and accord prevailed. That is all true. But have you not seen more in the narrative than that, even? In what respect were they of one accord and of one mind? “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that aught of the things he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.” Acts 4:32-35. Well, then, in what respect was their oneness of heart and soul?—It was in a consecration of all they had to the work which had been entrusted to them—the giving of the gospel to the world. And it is evident that God could not pour out his Spirit upon them, which would mean an equipment of power,—power to heal the sick, to cast out devils, to speak with tongues, which was all involved in the great commission given them,—till an unreserved yielding up to God of self and all that self possessed had been made; for if such power were given them without this surrender, they would make a wrong use of it. If nothing worse, they would have used it for self-glorification, and God can not let his power be exercised through man, except as it will bring glory to his great name among the heathen. See Mal. 1:11.

Now all this is for us. We need power in our work. We have the truth to give to every nation. Rev. 14:6, 7. But we can not give it without the power of the Holy Spirit. We evidently need, as they did, to wait for this equipment. And the point to reach to clear the way, to open the avenues for it to come, to make the connection with heaven, is to become of the same mind, of one soul and one spirit, as they did; that naught which we have—houses, lands, home, friends, money, even life itself—is our own; but all belongs to this cause and this work. Then the message will go in power, and the earth be lightened with its glory,—and in this generation.

If this is our experience, will not our offerings for the work of God be so increased that there will be no comparison between what has been done and what will be in this respect? Do not these things appeal to you in behalf of the plan which has been in vogue among us for a long time, of donating weekly to the cause of missions at least ten cents? Why has this plan, at least in some places, become an almost obsolete thing?

Now shall we not revive it in every church? The Mission Board has prepared some very appropriate envelopes for use in churches and by individuals in making such an offering. Why not form a habit of making this ten-cent-a-week donation to the needy fields in all lands, and reap a blessing which will follow unselfish giving? In the study of this momentous question, and in writing this appeal, a blessing is upon me; and I trust to see good results follow from an effort to revive a plan among our people which will provide a steady flow of means into the treasury of the Lord for carrying the good tidings everywhere.