"As the Lord hath Prospered."
By James White
"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come." 1 Cor. xvi, 1, 2. This text has nothing to say about public worship, or a day of rest, as some suppose; but plainly teaches the private duty of every child of God. The subject is the collection for the saints. The Apostle's plan is, that every one of the church lay by them for this object. The time to attend to it is, the first day of the week. The amount to be laid by is, "as God hath prospered." The plan is general, "As I have given orders to the church in Galatia," &c. Paul was a wise master-builder. His plans, laid for the furtherance of the gospel, and the relief of the poor, were laid in wisdom. No better plan can be devised than the one introduced by the Apostle. It is worthy the careful attention and imitation of the christians of this day; yea, it is their bounden duty. No Bible christian will wish to shun this duty. Those who are searching for the old paths, and are anxiously seeking to walk in the light of a pure gospel, and to possess apostolic faith and hope, will joyfully enter upon every apostolic work. Says Paul, "But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them at Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things." Rom. xv, 25-27. Paul mentions no salary for himself or his fellow-laborers; but points out the duty of every christian, and leaves them to act in the fear of God, that what they give may be free-will offerings for the glory of God. But mark the expression with care. "Let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him." All are directed to act a part in this good work. The interest and care of every one is solicited. Nothing could be better calculated to bring up all the members of a church in sympathy for each other, and in love for the cause of Christ. "As God hath prospered him." There are but few men, women or children but can lay by them something for charitable purposes each First-day. The Toronto Christian Guardian gives the account of a shoemaker, who being asked how he contrived to give so much, replied: "It is easily done by obeying St. Paul's precepts, in 1 Cor. xvi, 2, 'Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him.' I earn, said he, one day with another, about a dollar a day, and I can, without inconvenience to myself or family, lay by five cents of this sum for charitable purposes; the amount is thirty cents a week. My wife takes in sewing and washing, and earns something like two dollars a week, and she lays by ten cents of that. My children each of them earn a shilling or two and are glad to contribute their penny, so that altogether we lay by us in store forty cents a week. And if we have been unusually prospered, we contribute something more. The weekly amount is deposited every Sunday morning in a box kept for that purpose, and reserved for future use. Thus by these small earnings we have learned that it is more blessed to give than to receive." The yearly amount saved in this way, is about twenty-five dollars! There are many in common circumstances, especially young men, who can as well as not spare from their weekly incomes twice the sum laid by on Sunday morning by the poor shoemaker's family. A little more economy and energy, and an ardent love for the advancement of the cause of truth, will accomplish the work. Take hold of it, brethren. "As God hath prospered him." We have seen what the poor can do. But Paul did not have reference to the poor alone. He says, "Let every one of you," &c. This includes those whom God has prospered, and entrusted with from one to ten or more thousands. Such know that God has prospered them; but for what? That they may heap up treasures for the last days? No, no. A gracious Providence has placed this world's good in their hands to scatter abroad as the calls of the gospel, and wants of the cause require. While the poor can do a little, such can do much. Dear brethren, "Upon the first day of the week let EVERY ONE of you lay by him in store, AS GOD HATH PROSPERED HIM." Bro. Pearsall writes from Grand Rapids, Mich., Dec. 9th, 1855: "I have just been reading Bro. White's note to Bro. Rhodes' letter in Review No. 10, and will try by the grace of God to lay by something on every First-day, for why should I not give to the Lord and his cause that which belongs to him, and is consecrated to his service?" "We are trying here to awake from the drowsy state that we have been in of late, and come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty. I send $5 for the paper, and will send more as soon as I can." We hope to hear from others on this subject. J. W.