Venturing for the Lord.
By D. T. Bourdeau
WHY is it not as proper to venture and sacrifice for the Lord as it is to do this for ourselves? You will see men starting out in life penniless and by venturing, borrowing, and giving their notes, they will succeed in acquiring property. Faith is required in temporal matters; so we are sometimes required to exercise faith to meet the demands that God has against us. And we should not content ourselves in giving to the Lord that which costs us nothing. 2 Sam. 24: 24. God measures our sacrifices by what they cost us and by the spirit of love with which we make them. The widow’s two mites will bring her richer returns than the large gifts of the wealthy who put into the treasury. They put in of their abundance and to be seen of men; but the poor widow humbly gave in of her poverty all that she possessed. But it would not be sufficient for the wealthy to give as little as did the widow. They would not sacrifice in so doing, neither would they manifest love for God in return for his rich benefits. God does not design that any one branch of his church should do all the sacrificing and have all the reward. We must all deny ourselves and suffer with Christ, if we would reign with him. Those who sacrifice as much in giving, etc., as the minister does in laboring in his calling, will have as bright crowns and as rich a reward as the faithful minister. D. T. BOURDEAU.