their self…sacrificing
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efforts wages sufficient to support themselves and their families。
In the various departments of secular labor； mental and physical； faithful
workmen can earn good wages。 Is not the work of disseminating truth； and
leading souls to Christ； of more importance than any ordinary business？ And
are not those who faithfully engage in this work justly entitled to ample
remuneration？ By our estimate of the relative value of labor for moral and
for physical good； we show our appreciation of the heavenly in contrast with
the earthly。
That there may be funds in the treasury for the support of the ministry； and
to meet the calls for assistance in missionary enterprises； it is necessary
that the people of God give cheerfully and liberally。 A solemn
responsibility rests upon ministers to keep before the churches the needs of
the cause of God and to educate them to be liberal。 When this is neglected；
and the churches fail to give for the necessities of others； not only does
the work of the Lord suffer； but the blessing that should come to believers
is withheld。
Even the very poor should bring their offerings to God。 They are to be
sharers of the grace of Christ by denying self to help those whose need is
more pressing than their own。 The poor man's gift； the fruit of self…denial；
comes up before God as fragrant incense。 And every act of self…sacrifice
strengthens the spirit of beneficence in the giver's heart； allying him more
closely to the One who was rich； yet for our sakes became poor； that we
through His poverty might be rich。
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The act of the widow who cast two mitesall that she hadinto the
treasury； is placed on record for the encouragement of those who； struggling
with poverty； still desire by their gifts to aid the cause of God。 Christ
called the attention of the disciples to this woman； who had given 〃all her
living。〃 Mark 12：44。 He esteemed her gift of more value than the large
offerings of those whose alms did not call for self…denial。 From their
abundance they had given a small portion。 To make her offering； the widow
had deprived herself of even the necessities of life； trusting God to supply
her needs for the morrow。 Of her the Saviour declared； 〃Verily I say unto
you； That this poor widow hath cast more in； than all they which have cast
into the treasury。〃 Verse 43。 Thus He taught that the value of the gift is
estimated not by the amount； but by the proportion that is given and the
motive that actuates the giver。
The apostle Paul in his ministry among the churches was untiring in his
efforts to inspire in the hearts of the new converts a desire to do large
things for the cause of God。 Often he exhorted them to the exercise of
liberality。 In speaking to the elders of Ephesus of his former labors among
them； he said； 〃I have showed you all things； how that so laboring 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。〃 〃He which soweth
sparingly；〃 he wrote to the Corinthians； 〃shall reap also sparingly； and he
which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully。 Every man according as
he purposeth in his heart； so let him give；
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not grudgingly； or of necessity： for God loveth a cheerful giver。〃 Acts
20：35； 2 Corinthians 9：6； 7。
Nearly all the Macedonian believers were poor in this world's goods； but
their hearts were overflowing with love for God and His truth； and they
gladly gave for the support of the gospel。 When general collections were
taken up in the Gentile churches for the relief of the Jewish believers； the
liberality of the converts in Macedonia was held up as an example to other
churches。 Writing to the Corinthian believers； the apostle called their
attention to 〃the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia； how
that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their
deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality。 For to their
power； 。 。 。 yea； and beyond their power they were willing of themselves；
praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift； and take upon
us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints。〃 2 Corinthians 8：1…4。
The willingness to sacrifice on the part of the Macedonian believers came as
a result of wholehearted consecration。 Moved by the Spirit of God； they
〃first gave their own selves to the Lord〃 （2 Corinthians 8：5）； then they
were willing to give freely of their means for the support of the gospel。 It
was not necessary to urge them to give； rather； they rejoiced in the
privilege of denying themselves even of necessary things in order to supply
the needs of others。 When the apostle would have restrained them； they
importuned him to accept their offering。 In their simplicity and integrity；
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and in their love for the brethren； they gladly denied self； and thus
abounded in the fruit of benevolence。
When Paul sent Titus to Corinth to strengthen the believers there； he
instructed him to build up that church in the grace of giving； and in a
personal letter to the believers he also added his own appeal。 〃As ye abound
in everything；〃 he pleaded； 〃in faith； and utterance； and knowledge； and in
all diligence； and in your love to us； see that ye abound in this grace
also；〃 〃Now therefore perform the doing of it； that as there was a readiness
to will； so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have。 For
if there be first a willing mind； it is accepted according to that a man
hath； and not according to that he hath not。〃 〃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： 。 。 。 。 being enriched in everything
to all bountifulness； which causeth through us thanksgiving to God。〃 2
Corinthians 8：7； 11； 12； 9：8…11。
Unselfish liberality threw the early church into a transport of joy； for the
believers knew that their efforts were helping to send the gospel message to
those in darkness。 Their benevolence testified that they had not received
the grace of God in vain。 What could produce such liberality but the
sanctification of the Spirit？ In the eyes of believers and unbelievers it
was a miracle of grace。
Spiritual prosperity is closely bound up with Christian liberality。 The
followers of Christ should rejoice in the privilege of revealing in their
lives the beneficence of their
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Redeemer。 As they give to the Lord they have the assurance that their
treasure is going before them to the heavenly courts。 Would men make their
property secure？ Let them place it in the hands that bear the marks of the
crucifixion。 Would they enjoy their substance？ Let them use it to bless the
needy and suffering。 Would they increase their possessions？ Let them heed
the divine injunction； 〃Honor the Lord with thy substance； and with the
first fruits of all thine increase： so shall thy barns be filled with
plenty； and thy presses shall burst out with new wine。〃 Proverbs 3：9； 10。
Let them seek to retain their possessions for selfish purposes； and it will
be to their eternal loss。 But let their treasure be given to God； and from
that moment it bears His inscription。 It is sealed with His immutability。
God declares； 〃Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters。〃 Isaiah 32：20。 A
continual imparting of God's gifts wherever the cause of God or the needs of
humanity demand our aid； does not tend to poverty。 〃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 sower multiplies his
seed by casting it away。 So it is with those who are faithful in
distributing God's gifts。 By imparting they increase their blessings。 〃Give；
and it shall be given unto you；〃 God has promised； 〃good measure； pressed
down； and shaken together； and running over； shall men give into your
bosom。〃 Luke 6：38。
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Chapter 33
Laboring Under Difficulties
While Paul was careful to set before his converts the plain teaching of
Scripture regarding the proper support of the work of God； and while he
claimed for himself as a minister of the gospel the 〃power to forbear
working〃 （1 Corinthians 9：6） at secular employment as a means of
self…support； yet at various times during his ministry in the great centers
of civilization he wrought at a handicraft for his own maintenance。
Among the Jews physical toil was not thought strange or degrading。 Through
Moses the Hebrews had been instructed to train their children to industrious
habits； and it was regarded as a sin to allow the youth to grow up in
ignorance of physical labor。 Even though a child was to be educated for holy
office； a knowledge of practical life was thought essential。 Every youth；
whether his parents were rich or poor； was taught some trade。 Those parents
who neglected to provide such a training for their children were looked upon
as departing from the instruction of the
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Lord。 In accordance with this custom； Paul had early learned the trade of
tentmaking。
Before he became a disciple of Christ； Paul had occupied a high position and
was not dependent upon manual labor for support。 But afterward； when he had
used all his means in furthering the cause of Christ； he resorted at times
to his trade to gain a livelihood。 Especially was this the case when he
labored in places where his motives might have been misunderstood。
It is at Thessalonica that we first read of Paul's working with his hands in
self…supporting labor while preaching the word。 Writing to the church of
believers there； he reminded them that he 〃might have been burdensome〃 to
them； and added： 〃Ye remember； brethren； our labor and travail： for laboring
night and day； because we would not be chargeable unto any of you； we
preached unto you the gospel of God。〃
1 Thessalonians