p. 10 | Another Offering; Another Opportunity

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 21, 1906

Another Offering; Another Opportunity

By E. W. Webster

E. W. WEBSTER

Wife.—Husband, I have seen the announcement of the midsummer offering for foreign missions. The time is almost here; what are we going to do about it?

Husband.—Well, these offerings come so thick and fast, there are so many, we can't give to all of them. So many will be giving at this time, that our little mite won't be missed; we can hand in something almost any time. We may have to let this one go, and get ready for a good big offering next Christmas.

W.—But somehow I feel rather troubled about this particular offering. You remember that Elder Daniells said in a recent REVIEW that all the funds the Mission Board had to depend upon, aside from the Sabbath-school and First-day offerings, with which to feed and clothe our faithful foreign missionaries for the rest of this year would be what is given at this time. I heard Elder Hopeful say one day that while he and his family were in the islands, he went a whole week with only one cent in his pocket, among strangers, and where mail came from the States only once or twice a month. Yes, the Lord provided for them; but I was thinking, If our own Mary and Henry, who are so anxious to go to the islands, were there now, what would we do to help support the foreign work at this time, and next winter too?

H.—That is so, wife; and while you were talking, I was thinking that these offerings are precious opportunities.

W.—Yes. And each opportunity arises from a necessity, and they each come but once. The necessity of God's cause for that particular time passes, and the opportunity given to us by it is gone forever, and our reward is gone with it. Another necessity may arise, affording us another opportunity, but that other one is gone into eternity; and while we may have thought it not so important as the next one will be, the books, when opened, may reveal that we have missed the greatest opportunity of our lives.

H.—That is true, too. And I believe that it would be better for us to have a little part in each opportunity, rather than to have our offerings all piled upon one need. We shall then be sure not to miss having a part in each need and each opportunity; we shall not miss the pleasure and reward of any one of them, and in the end our help may amount to much more.

W.—Then, too, it seems dangerous to me, now at this late hour of the work, to miss improving a single opportunity, thinking to do more the next time. We may be disappointed, and have nothing at all to give next time. You know also, husband, that there will be many who will “plan to give next time” who will find that the very one they missed was the last opportunity God ever would give human beings to help his closing work, and they will wail because they missed it. I think we should improve each opportunity, even if we have but little to give to each.

H.—Now isn't that true? And how can we tell which opportunity comes from the greatest need? If others have been thinking as I began to think about this midsummer offering, then all might have misjudged the needs of this particular hour, and our dear missionaries in strange lands who are working so hard to warn the world as soon as possible of its coming doom and herald the coming of the blessed Saviour, without other means of support, might be left in want and distress, and the work be terribly crippled and retarded. We will give what we can this time, and next time, too; and we will pray that all our dear people may see it in this light, and do likewise; and we will follow our offerings with our prayers. Already I feel a new desire and determination to be more faithful, and also a greater interest in our foreign missions.

Greenville, S. C.