Chapter VI: Blessings

Some people don’t give away enough and that is the reason they don’t have enough left to pay their bills. If you are having trouble making “tongue and buckle meet,” and don’t have the necessities of life, I suggest that you start giving more to the Lord’s work. Then you will have more left to live on. This may not sound like good arithmetic; but it is good Bible teaching. “He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly, and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” “The liberal soul shall be made fat” (Prov. 25:11).

Jesus said, “Verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake and the gospel’s but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life” (Mark 10:29, 30). That is a wonderful promise. It does not apply to those who give for the sake of handsome returns; but to those who give for the sake of Christ. Those who give for His sake shall receive a hundredfold in this life. Do we believe the Bible? Then why don’t we give more? Many do not believe the above promise. They do not believe that all necessary things will be added to those who seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. They are afraid they will come to want if they give liberally. Instead of giving liberally and trusting God’s promises they try to provide for themselves by holding on to what they have. They should heed the words of the Bible: “There is that withholdeth more than is meet [suitable], but it tendeth to poverty” (Prov. 11:24). Christians need more faith. We need to believe that “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” I don’t believe any one was ever made poorer as a result of giving, if he gave according to the Bible. To do so would be to disbelieve the word of Almighty God.

May I insist again that you give prayerful consideration to this question: “How much is liberal?” Ask yourself, “How much must I give in order for the Lord to consider me a liberal giver?” This question must be answered to the satisfaction of the Lord Almighty. When a widow can give all she has without being reproved by the Lord, do you believe that God will be pleased with less than a tenth from you? In the light of what God required of the Jews do you believe that one-tenth exceeds the demands of liberality?

If all the members of God’s church gave a tenth [which they certainly could do and still have plenty left] the contribution of the average congregation would be at least four times as much as it is at present. Think of the good work that could then be supported. We could preach the gospel to the entire world in a short time; we could take care of all the poor; we could count the elders that rule well worthy of double honor (1 Tim. 5:17).

How many Jews did it take to start a congregation and support a priest? It took only ten. Wherever there were ten Jews they could employ a priest and support him with their tithe, or tenth. The priest was required to give a tenth also. This left each in the group ⁹/₁₀ to live on and meet other obligations. How many Christians does it take to support a preacher? In this age, it takes from one hundred to one thousand so-called Christians to keep one man busy in the work of the Lord. In the light of this comparison, how do you think we will stack up with the Jews on the Judgment Day? Why does a congregation of five hundred, or one thousand, members do but very little more than a congregation of one hundred members? Even if it takes one hundred Christians to support one preacher, why can’t a congregation of five hundred, or one thousand members support five, or ten full-time workers in the Lord’s vineyard? Is it not because the members of the average congregation are content to give barely enough to carry on a local program that is respectable in the eyes of the public? Such a limited conception of what is needed is not a scriptural standard of giving.

The New Testament requires liberality. The Jews had to give a tenth, and more. We must give liberally. Let us be sure that we meet this New Testament requirement. Let us prove our faith by our giving. Let us obey God and trust His promises. Let us give liberally, and watch the growth in our individual and congregational prosperity.

I want to leave just one more thought before closing. I suppose you are glad to be here, grateful for your existence on the earth. Most people are. Very few are tired of living. God blessed you when he gave you your life on this earth. I will tell you how you can get a blessing still greater—by giving your life to God. “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” If you were blessed when you received your life, you will be more blessed by giving your life in obedient service to your Maker. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1). Give your life to Jesus. Live for Him who died for you.

While we stand and sing we entreat you to accept the Lord’s gracious invitation.