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From Eternity Past
edgment of God’s goodness. When the priest accepted the gift, the
offerer said, “A Syrian ready to perish was my father”; and he de-
scribed the sojourn in Egypt and the affliction from which God had
delivered Israel. “He hath brought us into this place, and hath given
us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey. And now,
behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which Thou, Jehovah,
hast given me.”
Deuteronomy 26:5, 9, 10
.
The Secret of Prosperity
Says the wise man, “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and
there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.”
Proverbs 11:24
. The same lesson is taught in the New Testament by
the apostle Paul: “He which soweth sparingly shall reap also spar-
ingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully...
. God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always
having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
.
God intended that Israel should be light bearers to all the earth.
The Lord has ordained that the diffusion of light and truth in the earth
shall be dependent upon the efforts and offerings of those who partake
of the heavenly gift. He might have made angels the ambassadors
of His truth; but in His love and wisdom He called men to become
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colaborers with Himself, by choosing them to do this work.
In the days of Israel the tithe and freewill offerings were needed
to maintain the divine service. Should the people of God give less in
this age? The principle laid down by Christ is that our offerings to
God should be in proportion to the light and privileges enjoyed. “Unto
whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.”
Luke
12:48
. “Freely ye have received, freely give.”
Matthew 10:8
. As we
have before us the unparalleled sacrifice of the glorious Son of God,
should not our gratitude find expression in more abundant gifts?
The work of the gospel, as it widens, requires greater provision to
sustain it than was called for anciently. This makes the law of tithes
and offerings of even more urgent necessity now. If His people were
liberally to sustain His cause by voluntary gifts, God would be honored
and many more souls would be won to Christ.