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 Money
does talk! Listen to it.
A
brother leaves his fine house, drives to the building in a new
car, brushes his $150 suit, and with a grand flourish drops in
his dollar, loudly proclaiming, "This Is How I Have Been
Prospered"….. thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God
(ACT.5:4). Remember Ananias and Sapphira? What a clutter of
corpses might result from such action today. Nevertheless, a
place is prepared for all liars (REV.21:8).
My
gift says, "This is what I think of my blessings". A
new groom asked what he owed the preacher. "Oh, whatever it
was worth to get her". In jest, the young man offered a
quarter. "Wait! I will get your change.
"People
would like the Lord to set a fixed amount — like the law
(10%). Instead the Lord says, "Give according to what you
think your blessings are worth". A man's gift eloquently
speaks of his estimate of material blessings, forgiveness, the
right to pray, the fellowship of saints, and all spiritual
blessings in Christ.
Oh,
oh, there comes that well dressed fellow again. "Here is a
$1; just keep the change". Ugh.
My
contribution says, "This is what I want to give".
Never give more than you want to. Regardless what you "drop
in the plate" you will only get "credit" for what
you want to give — like the fellow who gave $10 thinking it
was $1.
A
hand exposing a diamond studded
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watch is raised. "How much do I have to
give?" He wants to give as little as possible. If he thinks
he can go to heaven on 50 cents, he will get change for his
dollar. Doubtless, some give a dollar "bill" only
because it does not clink. But remember, God knows what you want
to give — and why.
In
contrast, many in Jerusalem sold all they had — not because
they had to; they wanted to. See ACT.5:4. The Macedonians
"abounded…. to the riches of liberality" as they
asked "us with much entreaty that we would receive the
gift" (2CO.8:1-). They did not want to be left out; they
begged to give. Such gifts are always enough.
Again,
it says, "This is the measure of my love". Giving is
the test of professed love. Many say, "I love the
lost" or "I love the brethren". Lets see — put
them to the test.
Brethren
are destitute of food and clothing. Their needs are made known.
That well dressed fellow squirms and impatiently buttons his
coat over a bulging waistline. He scowls, drums his fingers on a
song book, thinking, "I will give my dollar if he will just
hush and let us go home". Read 1JO.3:16,17. "How
dwelleth the love of God in him?"
Paul
was put to the test. Even his sincere efforts to save men were
maligned. Yet he offered all and reserved nothing. "And I
will gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more
abundantly I love you, the less I be loved" (2CO.12:15).
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