GIVING by R. F. Cottrell

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 15, 1861

GIVING.

By R. F. Cottrell

“Nor as the world giveth, give I unto you.” Jno. xiv, 27. Christ differed from the world in his manner of giving. His followers should act like him, and not like the world.

1. The world love to give to be seen of men, and the honor they gain by so doing is their reward. “Verily they have their reward.” The more sounding of trumpets and ostentatious display is connected with their donations, the better they like it, since these are well calculated to increase their reward. In contrast with this, the christian is taught, “He that giveth, let him do it with simplicity.” Rom. xii, 8.

2. The world prefer giving to the rich. They will be much more liberal in their donations to the wealthy, than to the destitute. They will give much more toward purchasing a set of silver plate for that wealthy, popular, salaried minister, than they would to feed and clothe the suffering poor. When Job was reduced to poverty and wretchedness, his former friends cut his acquaintance and would not know him; but when the Lord turned his captivity, and gave him twice as much as he had before, “then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house; and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him; every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an ear-ring of gold.” Their sympathies were stirred for him, and they could pile in their trash upon him and get up a great donation-visit for his benefit, now that he did not need anything, but was able to get up a splendid supper, and have things in good style.

But the christian is taught to “give to him that needeth.” To give to the poor. “When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they bid thee again, and recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind; and thou shalt be blessed: for they cannot recompense thee; for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.”

3. The world are better pleased to give to foreign missions and distant objects of charity; because the further off the object, the more noise is made, and the wider the news is spread and published to the world; and thus their reward, the applause and admiration of men, is increased. Although we cannot find that passage

in the Bible that says, “Charity begins at home,” yet it is abundantly evident that the Lord is as well pleased with him who relieves those wants that come under his own observation, who when he “seeth his brother have need,” does not shut up his bowels of compassion from him, as with him who reserves his charities for those that he may hear of at a distance.

4. The world are governed by fancy and favoritism in their giving. In the support of their ministers (for they have their ministers to support), if a man's personal appearance be elegant and attractive, if his voice be sweet and musical, if he has an abundance of wit and humor with which to spice his discourses, in short, if in their estimation “he is just the man,” their purse-strings will be loosened and their hearts enlarged. Hence, there are two classes of ministers in each popular denomination. One class is wanted everywhere, the other nowhere. One class is worshiped, the other endured. One is abundantly supplied with all that heart could wish, while if the other obtain a scanty livelihood, they do well.

The world act simply upon their own preferences. But the wisdom from above is “without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” Among the solemn charges resting upon christians is this: “Doing nothing by partiality.” 1 Tim. v, 21. “If ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin.” Hence the marked distinction between christians and the world.

5. The world give grudgingly. Although under certain circumstances they will give, that they may be esteemed liberal, and to avoid the reputation of a niggard, yet they give grudgingly, especially to real objects of charity. But the christian gives, “not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver.” 2 Cor. ix, 7.

How vastly different is the christian from the world. Christians should be like Christ, in respect to giving, as well as other things. Then they will not act like the world. “Not as the world giveth, give I unto you.”

R. F. COTTRELL.