Gathering Weekly Mission Offerings
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work of God in its different branches throughout our world. As they
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should impart, the Lord would open ways whereby they would be able
continually to bestow, because they were continually receiving. There
would then be no occasion to make appeals for means to sustain the
cause. If the principle of giving to the Lord His own were carried out
regularly and systematically, it would be acknowledge of God. “Them
that honor Me I will honor.”—
The Review and Herald, May 16, 1893
.
Higher Motives Than Sympathy
The moral darkness of a ruined world pleads to Christian men
and women to put forth individual effort, to give of their means and
of their influence, that they may be assimilated to the image of Him,
who, though He possessed infinite riches, yet for our sakes became
poor. The Spirit of God cannot abide with those to whom He has sent
the message of His truth, but who need to be urged before they can
have any sense of their duty to be coworkers with Christ. The apostle
enforces the duty of giving from higher grounds than merely human
sympathy, because the feelings are moved. He enforces the principle
that we should labor unselfishly with an eye single to the glory of
God.—
Testimonies for the Church 3:391
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Overcoming Natural Selfishness
Men are not naturally inclined to be benevolent, but to be sordid
and avaricious, and to live for self. And Satan is ever ready to present
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the advantages to be gained by using all their means for selfish, worldly
purposes; he is glad when he can influence them to shirk duty, and
rob God in tithes and offerings. But not one is excused in this matter.
“Let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him.”
The poor and the rich, the young men and the young women who earn
wages,—all are to lay by a portion; for God claims it. The spiritual
prosperity of every member of the church depends on personal effort
and strict fidelity to God.—
Testimonies for the Church 5:382
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Teaching Benevolence to Children in the Home
Our great adversary is constantly working with power to allure the
youth to self-indulgence, pride, and extravagance, that their minds and