BLESSINGS IN GIVING by John H. Egbert

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 14, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 20.

BLESSINGS IN GIVING.

By John H. Egbert

[John H. Egbert, D. D., in Christian Advocate.]

GIVING in a right spirit will bring temporal blessings. The sacred writings abound in exhortations in evidence of this. Not to give to the support of the work of God is to help pull it down. “He that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad.” The fabled eagle that robbed the altar of its sacrifice, set fire to her own nest and destroyed herself and young. It never was loving that emptied the heart, or giving that emptied the purse. The rose-bush that gives its bright and fragrant blooms to gladden the eyes and hearts of those, who, shut in by age and afflictions can not look upon it in its glory or breathe its perfume where it grows, is far more productive both in the quality and quantity of its blossoms than the plant whose flowers run to seed upon the stalk, while their petals fade and fall, unblessing and unblessed.

No church ever died from too much giving; many have died from covetousness. The old darky preacher said: “If I should hear of a church that died from too much giving, I would gladly go any distance to preach its funeral sermon, and I would take for my text, ‘Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.’” It is the liberal soul that shall live and grow fat. Covetousness is antifat. But spiritual blessings are also promised. Passage upon passage from God’s Word might be quoted in proof if it was necessary. Paul said to Timothy: “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” On the other hand, poverty of spirit will be caused by a withholding more than is meet.

He who is always receiving and never giving is like the Dead Sea. Its brackish waters are never changed, tho constantly receiving the fresh waters of the Jordan. So all the streams of God’s bounty can not sweeten a heart that has no outlet in gifts of charity.

“The hour draws near, howe’er delayed and late, When at the eternal gate We leave the words and works we call our own, And lift void hands alone. For love to fill. Our nakedness of soul Brings to that gate no toll. Giftless we come to Him who all things gives, And gives because He lives.”