p. 4 | THE GIFT OF GIVING by Roswell F. Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 3, 1878

“THE GIFT OF GIVING.”

By Roswell F. Cottrell

Among the many gifts and graces of the Spirit, the gift of giving is very desirable, being profitable both to the giver and the receiver, especially the former, for “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” Nothing has more of a tendency to conform us to the likeness of Christ. It was “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

that though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich.” It was by “the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia,” that “their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of liberality.” For to their power, and beyond their power, they were willing of themselves, and prayed the apostle with much entreaty to receive their gift and minister the same to the poor saints. And the way they came to do so was, they “first gave their own selves to the Lord;” and this prepared them for the exercise of this grace, or gift, of God. See 2 Thess. 8 and 9. This incited in the apostle the ardent desire that through the instrumentality of Titus the same grace or gift might be perfected in the church of the Corinthians also.

Happy is he that has this gift in its fullness of blessing. He does not do or give “grudgingly or of necessity,” but with cheerfulness, realizing the truth, that “God loveth a cheerful giver.” Who would not desire to abound in this grace? Well, we may obtain it by a full consecration of ourselves to God, and by acquiring the habit of doing and giving to advance his cause and save men. The gift can never be acquired but through exercise in that direction, “Give, and it shall be given unto you.” Can we do or give but little? do and give that little, and the ability will increase. “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase; so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst forth with new wine.” When God sees that we will use what he gives rightly, he will give us more. He desires our best good, even our eternal salvation; and will intrust us with all that will be for our good. He does not desire a gift from us, but fruit that may abound to our account. See Phil. 4:17. The Lord is not in need, that he asks us to make a covenant with him by sacrifice. See Ps. 50:5, 10-12. If we offer to God thanksgiving and pay our vows unto the Most High, then we may call upon him in the day of trouble, and he will deliver us. It is better to trust in God than in ourselves.

And it is not the great deeds and the great gifts that are acceptable to God. “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” It is the motive, the real spirit of doing and giving, that weighs in the balances of Heaven. The poor widow in giving two mites gave more than all the rich. We are apt to think that if we were gifted and wealthy, we would give the world an example of devotion and liberality—we would do great things for God and humanity. Such thoughts are vain and false. They spring from a desire of self-glorification, rather than a desire to glorify God and benefit men. If we really desire to glorify God, we have only to use the time and means and powers that he has given us. If we do this, we have the approval of Heaven. You and I, my brother, can possess this inestimable favor.

Then let us cultivate the gift of giving, and God will increase the gift.

R. F. COTTRELL.