Will a Man Rob God?
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lay by for the poor, the suffering, and the distressed. I would call the
attention of our brethren especially to this point. Remember the poor.
Forego some of your luxuries, yea, even comforts, and help those
who can obtain only the most meager food and clothing. In doing for
them you are doing for Jesus in the person of His saints. He identifies
Himself with suffering humanity. Do not wait until your imaginary
wants are all satisfied. Do not trust to your feelings and give when you
feel like it and withhold when you do not feel like it. Give regularly,
either ten, twenty, or fifty cents a week, as you would like to see upon
the heavenly record in the day of God.
Your good wishes we will thank you for, but the poor cannot keep
comfortable on good wishes alone. They must have tangible proofs
of your kindness in food and clothing. God does not mean that any of
His followers should beg for bread. He has given you an abundance
that you may supply those of their necessities which by industry and
economy they are not able to supply. Do not wait for them to call your
attention to their needs. Act as did Job. The thing that he knew not he
searched out. Go on an inspecting tour and learn what is needed and
how it can be best supplied.
I have been shown that many of our people are robbing the Lord in
tithes and in offerings, and as the result His work is greatly hindered.
The curse of God will rest upon those who are living upon God’s
bounties and yet close their hearts and do nothing or next to nothing to
advance His cause. Brethren and sisters, how can the beneficent Father
continue to make you His stewards, furnishing you with means to use
for Him, when you grasp it all, selfishly claiming that it is yours!
Instead of rendering to God the means He has placed in their hands,
many invest it in more land. This evil is growing with our brethren.
They had before all they could well care for, but the love of money
or a desire to be counted as well off as their neighbors leads them to
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bury their means in the world and withhold from God His just dues.
Can we be surprised if they are not prospered? if God does not bless
their crops and they are disappointed? Could our brethren remember
that God can bless twenty acres of land and make them as productive
as one hundred, they would not continue to bury themselves in lands,
but would let their means flow into God’s treasury. “Take heed,” said
Christ, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting,
and drunkenness, and cares of this life.” Satan is pleased to have you