despair； in the light reflected from the cross reveals the writing of God：
Live； sinner； live！ ye penitent； believing souls； live！ I have paid a
ransom。
In the contemplation of Christ we linger on the shore of
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a love that is measureless。 We endeavor to tell of this love； and language
fails us。 We consider His life on earth； His sacrifice for us； His work in
heaven as our advocate； and the mansions He is preparing for those who love
Him； and we can only exclaim； O the height and depth of the love of Christ！
〃Herein is love； not that we loved God； but that He loved us； and sent His
Son to be the propitiation for our sins。〃 〃Behold； what manner of love the
Father hath bestowed upon us； that we should be called the sons of God。〃
1 John 4：10； 3：1。
In every true disciple this love； like sacred fire； burns on the altar of
the heart。 It was on the earth that the love of God was revealed through
Christ。 It is on the earth that His children are to reflect this love
through blameless lives。 Thus sinners will be led to the cross to behold the
Lamb of God。
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Chapter 32
A Liberal Church
In his first letter to the church at Corinth； Paul gave the believers
instruction regarding the general principles underlying the support of God's
work in the earth。 Writing of his apostolic labors in their behalf； he
inquired：
〃Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges？ who planteth a vineyard；
and eateth not of the fruit thereof？ or who feedeth a flock； and eateth not
of the milk of the flock？ Say I these things as a man？ or saith not the law
the same also？ For it is written in the law of Moses； Thou shalt not muzzle
the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn。 Doth God take care for oxen？
or saith He it altogether for our sakes？ For our sakes； no doubt； this is
written： that he that ploweth should plow in hope； and that he that
thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope。
〃If we have sown unto you spiritual things；〃 the apostle further inquired；
〃is it a great thing if we shall reap your
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carnal things？ If others be partakers of this power over you； are not we
rather？ Nevertheless we have not used this power； but suffer all things；
lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ。 Do ye not know that they which
minister about holy things live of the things of the temple？ and they which
wait at the altar are partakers with the altar？ Even so hath the Lord
ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel。〃 1
Corinthians 9：7…14。
The apostle here referred to the Lord's plan for the maintenance of the
priests who ministered in the temple。 Those who were set apart to this holy
office were supported by their brethren； to whom they ministered spiritual
blessings。 〃Verily they that are of the sons of Levi； who receive the office
of the priesthood； have a commandment to take tithes of the people according
to the law。〃 Hebrews 7：5。 The tribe of Levi was chosen by the Lord for the
sacred offices pertaining to the temple and the priesthood。 Of the priest it
was said； 〃The Lord thy God hath chosen him 。 。 。 to stand to minister in
the name of the Lord。〃 （Deuteronomy 18：5。） One tenth of all the increase was
claimed by the Lord as His own； and to withhold the tithe was regarded by
Him as robbery。
It was to this plan for the support of the ministry that Paul referred when
he said； 〃Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel
should live of the gospel。〃 And later； in writing to Timothy； the apostle
said； 〃The laborer is worthy of his reward。〃 1 Timothy 5：18。
The payment of the tithe was but a part of God's plan for
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the support of His service。 Numerous gifts and offerings were divinely
specified。 Under the Jewish system the people were taught to cherish a
spirit of liberality both in sustaining the cause of God and in supplying
the wants of the needy。 For special occasions there were freewill offerings。
At the harvest and the vintage； the first fruits of the fieldcorn； wine；
and oilwere consecrated as an offering to the Lord。 The gleanings and the
corners of the field were reserved for the poor。 The first fruits of the
wool when the sheep were shorn； of the grain when the wheat was threshed；
were set apart for God。 So also were the first…born of all animals； and a
redemption price was paid for the first…born son。 The first fruits were to
be presented before the Lord at the sanctuary and were then devoted to the
use of the priests。
By this system of benevolence the Lord sought to teach Israel that in
everything He must be first。 Thus they were reminded that God was the
proprietor of their fields； their flocks； and their herds； that it was He
who sent them the sunshine and the rain that developed and ripened the
harvest。 Everything that they possessed was His； they were but the stewards
of His goods。
It is not God's purpose that Christians； whose privileges far exceed those
of the Jewish nation； shall give less freely than they gave。 〃Unto
whomsoever much is given；〃 the Saviour declared； 〃of him shall be much
required。〃 Luke 12：48。 The liberality required of the Hebrews was largely to
benefit their own nation； today the work of God extends
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over all the earth。 In the hands of His followers； Christ has placed the
treasures of the gospel； and upon them He has laid the responsibility of
giving the glad tidings of salvation to the world。 Surely our obligations
are much greater than were those of ancient Israel。
As God's work extends； calls for help will come more and more frequently。
That these calls may be answered； Christians should heed the command； 〃Bring
ye all the tithes into the storehouse； that there may be meat in Mine
house。〃 Malachi 3：10。 If professing Christians would faithfully bring to God
their tithes and offerings； His treasury would be full。 There would then be
no occasion to resort to fairs； lotteries； or parties of pleasure to secure
funds for the support of the gospel。
Men are tempted to use their means in self…indulgence； in the gratification
of appetite； in personal adornment； or in the embellishment of their homes。
For these objects many church members do not hesitate to spend freely and
even extravagantly。 But when asked to give to the Lord's treasury； to carry
forward His work in the earth； they demur。 Perhaps； feeling that they cannot
well do otherwise； they dole out a sum far smaller than they often spend for
needless indulgence。 They manifest no real love for Christ's service； no
earnest interest in the salvation of souls。 What marvel that the Christian
life of such ones is but a dwarfed； sickly existence！
He whose heart is aglow with the love of Christ will regard it as not only a
duty； but a pleasure； to aid in the
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advancement of the highest； holiest work committed to man the work of
presenting to the world the riches of goodness； mercy； and truth。
It is the spirit of covetousness which leads men to keep for gratification
of self means that rightfully belong to God； and this spirit is as abhorrent
to Him now as when through His prophet He sternly rebuked His people；
saying； 〃Will a man rob God？ Yet ye have robbed Me。 But ye say； Wherein have
we robbed Thee？ In tithes and offerings。 Ye are cursed with a curse： for ye
have robbed Me； even this whole nation。〃 Malachi 3：8； 9。
The spirit of liberality is the spirit of heaven。 This spirit finds its
highest manifestation in Christ's sacrifice on the cross。 In our behalf the
Father gave His only…begotten Son； and Christ； having given up all that He
had； then gave Himself； that man might be saved。 The cross of Calvary should
appeal to the benevolence of every follower of the Saviour。 The principle
there illustrated is to give； give。 〃He that saith he abideth in Him ought
himself also so to walk； even as He walked。〃 1 John 2：6。
On the other hand； the spirit of selfishness is the spirit of Satan。 The
principle illustrated in the lives of worldlings is to get； get。 Thus they
hope to secure happiness and ease； but the fruit of their sowing is misery
and death。
Not until God ceases to bless His children will they cease to be under bonds
to return to Him the portion that He claims。 Not only should they render the
Lord the portion that belongs to Him； but they should bring also to His
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treasury； as a gratitude offering； a liberal tribute。 With joyful hearts
they should dedicate to the Creator the first fruits of their
bountiestheir choicest possessions； their best and holiest service。 Thus
they will gain rich blessings。 God Himself will make their souls like a
watered garden whose waters fail not。 And when the last great harvest is
gathered in； the sheaves that they are enabled to bring to the Master will
be the recompense of their unselfish use of the talents lent them。
God's chosen messengers； who are engaged in aggressive labor； should never
be compelled to go a warfare at their own charges； unaided by the
sympathetic and hearty support of their brethren。 It is the part of church
members to deal liberally with those who lay aside their secular employment
that they may give themselves to the ministry。 When God's ministers are
encouraged； His cause is greatly advanced。 But when； through the selfishness
of men； their rightful support is withheld； their hands are weakened； and
often their usefulness is seriously crippled。
The displeasure of God is kindled against those who claim to be His
followers； yet allow consecrated workers to suffer for the necessities of
life while engaged in active ministry。 These selfish ones will be called to
render an account； not only for the misuse of their Lord's money； but for
the depression and heartache which their course has brought upon His
faithful servants。 Those who are called to the work of the ministry； and at
the call of duty give up all to engage in God's service； should receive for
their self…sacrificing