“It Is More Blessed to Give Than to Receive”
By MRS. IVA F. CADY
We are often told of some sister who is very poor in this world's goods, but who gives liberally of her means to support the Lord's work; and the idea is expressed that she should not give so much, but should keep it to provide more of the comforts of life for herself and family. Now, we have a Bible illustration of a poor widow giving all that she had. Mark 12:41-44. When Jesus sat and watched the people casting money into the treasury, besides many who were rich and cast in much, there came a certain poor widow and threw in two mites, which is a farthing, or half of our cent. Jesus said that she of her want had cast in all that she had, even all of her living. But he did not reprove her for giving her all, though she was a widow, and poor, and had no one to lean upon for support. On the contrary, he commended her, saying that she had given more than all the others. “Her heart went with her gift; its value was estimated, not by the worth of the coin, but by the love to God and the interest in his work that had prompted the deed. . . . The rich had bestowed from their abundance, many of them to be seen and honored by men. Their large donations had deprived them of no comfort, or even luxury; they had required no sacrifice, and could not be compared in value with the widow's mite. . . . “Among the poor there are many who long to show their gratitude to God for his grace and truth. They greatly desire to share with their more prosperous brethren in sustaining his service. These souls should not be repulsed. Let them lay up their mites in the bank of heaven. If given from a heart filled with love for God, these seeming trifles become consecrated gifts, priceless offerings, which God smiles upon and blesses.”—“The Desire of Ages,” pages 615, 616. “He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. . . . 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.” 2 Cor. 9:6-8. The Lord is able to make all grace abound toward us, so that we may have a sufficiency in all things and so be able to keep on giving. Since we see that liberal giving brings the blessing of the Lord, we should not wish the poor to be deprived of that blessing, for they need it as well as others. We are told that “the blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.” Prov. 10:22. His blessing is the best thing we can have in this world. Though some may say, “My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth,” we are to remember the Lord, and that it is he who gives us power to get wealth. Deut. 8:17, 18. We are dependent upon him for every blessing, whether it be temporal or spiritual; so let each do his part in the carrying on of the work of the Lord in the earth, that each may share in the blessings and in the glorious reward.