p. 323 | Money for Christ

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, Cal. · Aug 19, 1875

Money for Christ.

PERSONAL (purse-an-all) consecration was certainly a prominent characteristic of the apostolic age, and in marked contrast with the covetous policy so prevalent at the present day.

Captain Webb, a practical Christian laborer of Wesley's time, when he heard of the conversion of a rich man, was in the habit of asking: "Is his purse converted?" Very properly doubting the former, if not corroborated by the latter.

A laudable instance of liberality in this direction is that of an afflicted lady in Virginia, who annually gives $150 toward enabling a man to spend all his time in missionary work in destitute portions of that State and Tennessee.

Though a helpless invalid, she is, by proxy in this way, a useful gospel worker.

There is an inseparable connection between temporal and spiritual prosperity, and Christian liberality. "He that watereth shall be watered also himself."

An English gentleman gave, the first year, $80 to the Bible Society, and increased his contributions from year to year, until he finally gave $20,000 annually.

When asked how his charities increased so largely, he replied: "The more I give the more I get." A princely giver in our own country, when asked the same question, replied: "It don't cost me anything; it is the Lord's money I give."

The poor people of Glasgow, Scotland, used to say that "David Dale gave his money by shovelfuls, and God almighty shoveled it back again."

According to John Bunyan:

"A man there was, some called him mad; The more he gave the more he had."

A gentleman of Quincy, Illinois, in addition to liberal local contributions, has for years supported a foreign missionary.

Zacchæus gave one-half (Luke 19:8), and John Wesley, as is well known, gave all of his income, except the merest pittance for support and the expenses of travel.

As largely increased contributions are urgently demanded by the exigencies of the church and world, it becomes the imperative duty of all Christians to prayerfully inquire as to what may be their individual obligations and responsibilities in the premises.

"Give! give! be always giving! He who gives not is not living! Give strength, give thoughts, give deeds, give pelf, Give love, give tears, and give thyself!" —Church Union.

The Rev. Dr. Duryea says that Christian people have been too much in the habit of giving their chips, shavings, and sawdust as charitable offerings to the poor, and now he insists that they shall strike the heart of the timber, and make their gifts solid and substantial.

LET a person begin life by dodging, and he must run a gauntlet to the end, as a rule. Let him face the world squarely, and if his success is slow, depend upon it it will be sure.

EACH Pisgah of labor has its glimpse of the promised land.