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“Freely Ye Have Received, Freely Give”
Self-sacrifice is the keynote of the teachings of Christ. Often
it is presented and enjoined in language that seems authoritative,
because God sees that there is no other way to save man than to cut
away from his life the selfishness which, if retained, would degrade
the whole being.
Christ became poor that we might be partakers of the far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
2 Corinthians 4:17
. We are
to practice the same self-sacrifice that led Him to give Himself up to
the death of the cross, to make it possible for human beings to have
eternal life. In all our expenditure of means we are to strive to fulfill
the purpose of Him who is the alpha and omega of all Christian
effort.
We are to place in the Lord’s treasury all the means that we can
spare. For this means, needy, unworked fields are calling. From
many lands is sounding the cry, “Come over, ... and help us.” Our
church members should feel a deep interest in home and foreign
missions. Great blessings will come to them as they make self-
sacrificing efforts to plant the standard of truth in new territory. The
money invested in this work will bring rich returns. New converts,
rejoicing in the light received from the word, will in their turn give
of their means to carry the light of truth to others.
God’s Benevolence
God gives to us regularly, freely, abundantly. Every earthly
blessing is from His hand. What if the Lord should cease to bestow
His gifts upon us? What a cry of wretchedness, suffering, and want
would go up from the earth! We need daily the unfailing flow of
Jehovah’s goodness.
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This world was established and is sustained by the compassionate
love of the Creator. God is the giver of all we have. He calls upon
us to return to Him a portion of the abundance He has bestowed on
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