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Testimonies for the Church Volume 3
He claims as His own, and in robbing Him they rob themselves of the
heavenly treasure.
The plan of systematic benevolence does not press heavily upon
any one man. “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.” The poor are
not excluded from the privilege of giving. They, as well as the wealthy,
may act a part in this work. The lesson that Christ gave in regard to
the widow’s two mites shows us that the smallest willing offerings of
the poor, if given from a heart of love, are as acceptable as the largest
donations of the rich.
In the balances of the sanctuary the gifts of the poor, made from
love to Christ, are not estimated according to the amount given, but
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according to the love which prompts the sacrifice. The promises of
Jesus will as surely be realized by the liberal poor man, who has
but little to offer, but who gives that little freely, as by the wealthy
man who gives of his abundance. The poor man makes a sacrifice
of his little, which he really feels. He really denies himself of some
things that he needs for his own comfort, while the wealthy man
gives of his abundance, and feels no want, denies himself nothing that
he really needs. Therefore there is a sacredness in the poor man’s
offering that is not found in the rich man’s gift, for the rich give of
their abundance. God’s providence has arranged the entire plan of
systematic benevolence for the benefit of man. His providence never
stands still. If God’s servants follow His opening providence, all will
be active workers.
Those who withhold from the treasury of God and hoard their
means for their children, endanger the spiritual interest of their chil-
dren. They place their property, which is a stumbling block to them-
selves, in the pathway of their children, that they may stumble over it
to perdition. Many are making a great mistake in regard to the things
of this life. They economize, withholding from themselves and others
the good they might receive from a right use of the means which God
has lent them, and become selfish and avaricious. They neglect their
spiritual interests and become dwarfs in religious growth, all for the
sake of accumulating wealth which they cannot use. They leave their
property to their children, and nine times out of ten it is even a greater