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A Living Benevolence, June 5
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to
support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus,
how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Acts 20:35
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We should regard ourselves as stewards of the Lord’s property and
God as the supreme proprietor, to whom we are to render His own when
He shall require it....
The servants of God should be making their wills every day in good
works and liberal offerings to God.
Dying legacies are a miserable substitute for living benevolence.
Hoarded wealth is not merely useless, it is a curse. In this life it
is a snare to the soul, drawing the affections away from the heavenly
treasure. In the great day of God its witness to unused talents and
neglected opportunities will condemn its possessor.... He who realizes
that his money is a talent from God will use it economically, and will
feel it a duty to save that he may give.
It is utter folly to defer to make a preparation for the future life until
nearly the last hour of the present life. It is also a great mistake to defer
to answer the claims of God for liberality to His cause until the time
comes when you are to shift your stewardship upon others. Those to
whom you entrust your talents of means may not do as well with them
as you have done. How dare rich men run so great risks! Those who
wait till death before they make a disposition of their property, surrender
it to death rather than to God. In so doing many are acting directly
contrary to the plan of God plainly stated in His Word. If they would
do good they must seize the present golden moments and labor with all
their might, as if fearful that they may lose the favorable opportunity....
We must all be rich in good works in this life if we would secure the
future, immortal life. When the judgment shall sit and the books shall
be opened, every man will be rewarded according to his works.
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