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Testimonies for the Church Volume 3
and laying by a small sum every week, help to swell the treasury, and
their gifts are wholly acceptable to God; for they make just as great,
and even greater, sacrifices than their more wealthy brethren. The
plan of systematic benevolence will prove a safeguard to every family
against temptations to spend means for needless things, and especially
will it prove a blessing to the rich by guarding them from indulging in
extravagances.
Every week the demands of God upon each family are brought to
mind by each of its members fully carrying out the plan; and as they
have denied themselves some superfluity in order to have means to put
into the treasury, lessons of value in self-denial for the glory of God
have been impressed upon the heart. Once a week each is brought face
to face with the doings of the past week—the income that he might
have had if he had been economical and the means that he does not
have because of indulgence. His conscience is reined up, as it were,
before God, and either commends or accuses him. He learns that if he
retains peace of mind and the favor of God he must eat and drink and
dress to His glory.
Systematic and liberal giving in accordance with the plan keeps
the channel of the heart open. We place ourselves in connection with
God, that He may use us as channels through which His gifts may flow
to others. The poor will not complain of systematic benevolence, for
it touches them lightly. They are not neglected and passed by, but are
favored with acting a part in being co-workers with Christ, and will
receive the blessing of God as well as the wealthy. In the very process
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of laying aside the littles as they can spare them they are denying self
and cultivating liberality of heart. They are educating themselves to
good works, and are as effectually meeting the design of God in the
plan of systematic benevolence as are the more wealthy who give of
their abundance.
In the days of the apostles, men went everywhere preaching the
word. New churches were raised up. Their love and zeal for Christ
led them to acts of great denial and sacrifice. Many of these Gen-
tile churches were very poor, yet the apostle declares that their deep
poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality. Their gifts were
extended beyond their ability to give. Men periled their lives and
suffered the loss of all things for the truth’s sake.