Basic HTML Version
Benevolence, March 22
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not
grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And 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 9:7, 8
.
When the hearts of men are softened by the presence of the Spirit of God,
they are more susceptible to impressions of the Holy Spirit, and resolves are
made to deny self and to sacrifice for the cause of God. It is when divine
light shines into the chambers of the mind with unusual clearness and power
that the feelings of the natural man are overcome, that selfishness loses its
power upon the heart, and that desires are awakened to imitate the Pattern,
Jesus Christ, in practicing self-denial and benevolence. The disposition of the
naturally selfish man then becomes kind and pitiful toward lost sinners, and
he makes a solemn pledge to God, as did Abraham and Jacob.
Heavenly angels are present on such occasions. The love of God and love
for souls triumphs over selfishness and love of the world. Especially is this
the case when the speaker, in the Spirit and power of God, presents the plan
of redemption, laid by the Majesty of heaven in the sacrifice of the cross....
God has given man a part to act in accomplishing the salvation of His
fellow men. He can work in connection with Christ by doing acts of mercy
and beneficence. But he cannot redeem them, not being able to satisfy the
claims of insulted justice. This the Son of God alone can do, by laying aside
His honor and glory, clothing His divinity with humanity, and coming to earth
to humiliate Himself and shed His blood in behalf of the human race.
In commissioning His disciples to go “into all the world, and preach the
gospel to every creature” (
Mark 16:15
), Christ assigned to men the work
of spreading the gospel. But while some go forth to preach, He calls upon
others to answer to His claims upon them for tithes and offerings with which
to support the ministry and to spread the printed truth all over the land.—
Testimonies for the Church 4:470-472
.
[91]
91