Coworkers With God
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He regarded them. He “so loved the world, that He gave His only-
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but
have everlasting life.”
John 3:16
. The gift of Christ reveals the Father’s
heart. It testifies that, having undertaken our redemption, He will spare
nothing, however dear, which is necessary to the completion of His
work.
The spirit of liberality is the spirit of heaven. Christ’s self-
sacrificing love is revealed upon the cross. That man might be saved,
He gave all that He had, and then gave Himself. The cross of Christ
appeals to the benevolence of every follower of the blessed Saviour.
The principle there illustrated is to give, give. This, carried out in
actual benevolence and good works, is the true fruit of the Christian
life. The principle of worldlings is to get, get, and thus they expect to
secure happiness; but, carried out in all its bearings, the fruit is misery
and death.
The light of the gospel shining from the cross of Christ rebukes
selfishness, and encourages liberality and benevolence. It should not
be a lamented fact that there are increasing calls to give. God in His
providence is calling His people out from their limited sphere of ac-
tion, to enter upon greater enterprises. Unlimited effort is demanded at
this time when moral darkness is covering the world. Many of God’s
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people are in danger of being ensnared by worldliness and covetous-
ness. They should understand that it is His mercy that multiplies the
demands for their means. Objects that call benevolence into action
must be placed before them, or they cannot pattern after the character
of the great Exemplar.
The Blessings of Stewardship
In commissioning His disciples to go “into all the world, and
preach the gospel to every creature,” Christ assigned to men the work
of extending the knowledge of His grace. But while some go forth
to preach, He calls upon others to answer His claims upon them for
offerings, with which to support His cause in the earth. He has placed
means in the hands of men, that His divine gifts may flow through
human channels in doing the work appointed us in saving our fellow
men. This is one of God’s ways of exalting man. It is just the work