Sin of Covetousness
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wealth as a bounty lent him of God with which to do good he would
have laid up treasure in heaven and been rich in good works.
The length and usefulness of life do not consist in the amount of
our earthly possessions. Those who use their wealth in doing good will
see no necessity for large accumulations in this world; for the treasure
which is used to advance the cause of God and which is given to the
needy in Christ’s name is given to Christ, and He lays it up for us in
the bank of heaven in bags which wax not old. He who does this is
rich toward God, and his heart will be where his treasures are secured.
He who humbly uses what God has given for the honor of the Giver,
freely giving as he has received, may feel the peace and assurance in
all his business that God’s hand is over him for good, and he himself
will bear the impress of God, having the Father’s smile.
Many have pitied the lot of the Israel of God in being compelled
to give systematically, besides making liberal offerings yearly. An
all-wise God knew best what system of benevolence would be in
accordance with His providence, and has given His people directions
in regard to it. It has ever proved that nine tenths are worth more to
them than ten tenths. Those who have thought to increase their gains by
withholding from God, or by bringing Him an inferior offering,—the
lame, the blind, or the diseased,—have been sure to suffer loss.
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Providence, though unseen, is ever at work in the affairs of men.
God’s hand can prosper or withhold, and He frequently withholds from
one while He seems to prosper another. All this is to test and prove
men and to reveal the heart. He lets misfortune overtake one brother
while He prospers others to see if those whom He favors have His
fear before their eyes and will perform the duty enjoined upon them in
His word to love their neighbor as themselves and to help their poorer
brother from a love to do good. Acts of generosity and benevolence
were designed by God to keep the hearts of the children of men tender
and sympathetic, and to encourage in them an interest and affection
for one another in imitation of the Master, who for our sakes became
poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich. The law of
tithing was founded upon an enduring principle and was designed to
be a blessing to man.
The system of benevolence was arranged to prevent that great evil,
covetousness. Christ saw that in the prosecution of business the love of
riches would be the greatest cause of rooting true godliness out of the