Excellent Advice Concerning Giving.
By John Nevins Andrews
The following is from the Apocrypha: “If thou hast abundance, give alms accordingly: if thou have but a little, be not afraid to give according to that little; for thou layest up a good treasure for thyself against the day of necessity.” Tobit 4: 8, 9. This seems to me to be admirable instruction. If you have abundance, give according to that abundance. But how often do we hear men who have much means at their command excuse themselves for giving a trifling sum, by saying that this time only, the widow’s mite must be expected from them. They forget that small as was the sum which the widow gave, it was her earthly all. The widow’s mite is the greatest offering of earthly substance that can be made. Perhaps there has not been since the days of Christ, on an average, one rich man in a hundred years who has come up to the poor widow’s standard of giving. We cannot insist that they should; but we do say that if they have abundance, they should give abundantly, and we enter solemn protest when such persons give in the cause of Christ some trifling amount, and call it the widow’s mite. There is sound advice also to the poor. Be not afraid to give of thy little. Many think that poverty excuses them from giving at all. Give something. Keep the spirit of sacrifice alive. God measures the gift according to the ability and the heart. 2 Cor. 8:12. The poor may lay up treasure in Heaven, as well as the rich. Do what you can. The day of God will show what every one could have done, and what they have done.