By Win. Freeman Jones, Iberia, Mo

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that through his poverty you might be rich."

"For verily He took not on him the nature of angels; but He took on him the seed of Abraham" (Heb. 2:16).

"But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philip. 2:7, 8).

He, who said, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head" (Matt. 8:20), was extremely happy with the Father in heaven, with all the beauties, wealth and glories of that abode about him; yet He was willing to come to the rescue of the human family, in its perishing condition. And still "the earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof" (1 Cor. 10:26).

When He came to earth, what did He find? A world filled with "the beauty of holiness"? Righteous associations on every hand? No, a thousand times, NO! Read Romans chapter one, verses 21-32. And profane history corroborates the divine record as to the world’s condition then.

But, what did He give for our sakes, besides leaving for a time the unspeakable joys and pleasures in heaven? He gave his life on "the old rugged cross." And now He says, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Matt. 16:24).

In view of the above facts and truth, may we ask ourselves, What have we done for Him ?—not for him, for his own benefit, for He needs nothing we can do for or give to him—what have we done and are we doing for his Cause and our spiritual benefit? It is to our credit, that we attend church services as often as able, and take such part as talent and divine authority warrant; that we use good sincere language, are truthful with our neighbors and call upon the sick and distressed, help with the dying and the dead, are good at home and abroad, day by day. But can it be truthfully said of us, "One thing thou lackest?" And this, that we are not investing our material means, which the Lord has prospered us with, as He directs?

We say to the sectarian world, which raises finance for carrying on the money-side of church work by unlawful means, There is but one way to raise the Lord’s moneys, and that is by giving individually, each of us giving "as the Lord hath prospered him" (1 Cor. 16:2). Fine: The Lord divinely authorizes his people to raise his moneys within themselves—not by begging or enticing the worldly for funds to carry on the Lord’s work. And his blood-bought Church is his only society through which to raise such funds. Agreed; but, at that, are we each one giving "as the Lord hath prospered him"? Is no one keeping back a part of the Lord’s part from his bountiful bestowal? Let us see what the Apostle to the Gentiles says about how congregations were commanded to do in his day:

"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches in Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come" (1 Cor. 16:1, 2).

"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. For I mean not that other men be eased, and you burdened: but by an equality that there may be an equality: as it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack . . . . But this I say, He which soweth sparingly 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); 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: (as it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor his righteousness remaineth forever. Now He that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness. (2 Cor. 8th and 9th chapters). And Paul quoted from Jesus (Acts 20:35), "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

In view of the foreging, not only is it the duty of each one to give as prospered—the Lord’s only appointed way to raise the moneys for the work, but also it is the means of caring for the worthy poor saints, and of dispersing the Gospel abroad. The "messengers of the churches" (evangelists) need support in needy fields. They—shall I say; we men, who labor in the Gospel, devoting our time and talent in sacrifice, to planting new congregations in desert fields, also in strengthening weak congregations, should be "poor saints." And I think I speak as a truthful man, when I say that most of us are poor "in this world’s good" (1 John 3:17). Nearly all, if not all of us are in debt financially, and under present distressing money conditions cannot meet our due obligations. We are willing workers; and "the fields are already white unto harvest, "but the laborers are so few. But are those who cannot go, or are not talented to preach the Gospel, giving according to the above-mentioned scriptural conditions, that we men may continue to stay in the harvest fields? Are you sacrificing as we are, brethren who have income and means? Do you forget what Jesus has done and what He promises to do?

I trust that we all shall be considerate of the demands upon us, as the Lord’s chosen nation, and use what we have to advance the missionary work now so great, that we may not be condemned with the world, because we are guilty of the "one thing thou lackest." May God bless the willing, cheerful giver, whose life is set to bring souls to Christ.