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THE LAW OF LIBERALITY

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Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Feb 5, 1880

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 6, No. 5.

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THE LAW OF LIBERALITY.

THERE was, in one of the Northern States, a deacon of remarkable liberality. To every benevolent and Christian enterprise he contributed with princely munificence. His brethren became apprehensive that he would reduce himself to poverty. After due consultation, the pastor was appointed to inform the deacon that his brethren thought him too liberal, and wished him to curtail his gifts. The pastor entered on the performance of the duty with all possible delicacy. “My brother,” said the watchful shepherd, “I am requested by your brethren to say that they fear you are too liberal, and are in danger of bringing yourself and family to poverty. They wish you to be more sparing in your gifts.”
“But,” replied the deacon, “I have not yet reduced myself to poverty; my family are comfortably supported, my children are receiving an education, and my property is constantly increasing in value. I cannot give less—I have been thinking lately that I ought to give more.” The pastor found the deacon incorrigibly bent on doing good, and returned home deeply impressed with the words of the generous man, and earnestly meditating on his strong faith and disinterested liberality.
Early next morning, the deacon saw his pastor approaching with hurried steps, “My brother,” said the minister, “I was wrong, and you were right. The Lord convinced me last night in a dream that you will lose nothing by your liberality. I thought I saw you standing on the ocean shore, with a large basket of crackers on your arm, You took out handful after handful of crackers and threw them into the water. The receding wave quickly bore them out of sight, and I thought your crackers would soon be all wasted. But I looked a little while, and I saw the rising wave bring them back to your feet swelled into large loaves.”
“Why,” said the pious deacon, “this is just what I have been taught by my Bible: ‘Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days.’”—Sel.