Chapter 56—Left to the Honor of Men
The only plan which the gospel has marked out for sustaining the
work of God is one that leaves the support of His cause to the honor of
men. With an eye single to the glory of God, men are to give to God
the proportion which He has required. Viewing the cross of Calvary,
looking upon the world’s Redeemer, who for our sake became poor,
that we through His poverty might be made rich, we shall feel that
we are not to lay up for ourselves treasures on the earth, but to lay up
treasures in the bank of heaven, which will never suspend payment nor
fail. The Lord has given Jesus to our world, and the question is, What
can we give back to God in gifts and offerings to show our appreciation
of His love? “Freely ye have received, freely give.”
How much more eager will every faithful steward be to enlarge
the proportion of gifts to be placed in the Lord’s treasure house, than
to decrease his offering one jot or tittle. Whom is he serving? For
whom is he preparing an offering?—For the One upon whom he is
dependent for every good thing which he enjoys. Then let not one of
us who is receiving the grace of Christ, give occasion for the angels to
be ashamed of us, and for Jesus to be ashamed to call us brethren.
Shall ingratitude be cultivated, and made manifest by our niggardly
practices in giving to the cause of God?—No, no! Let us surrender
ourselves a living sacrifice, and give our all to Jesus. It is His; we are
His purchased possession. Those who are recipients of His grace, who
contemplate the cross of Calvary, will not question concerning the
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proportion to be given, but will feel that the richest offering is all too
meager, all disproportionate to the great gift of the only-begotten Son
of the infinite God. Through self-denial, the poorest will find ways of
obtaining some thing to give back to God.
Stewardship of Time
Time is money, and many are wasting precious time which might
be used in useful labor, working with their hands the thing that is good.
The Lord will never say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant,”
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