p. 726 | God's Purpose in Our Financial Burden

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 31, 1913

God's Purpose in Our Financial Burden

By E. K. SLADE

Gospel Finance—No. 2

God's Purpose in Our Financial Burden

E. K. SLADE

ANGELS instead of men might have been the agencies for forwarding the work of the gospel in the earth, or the messages of warning and the saving truths might be written in glowing characters in the skies, visible to all peoples and understood in all tongues. God is not dependent upon puny man. He has not made him a coworker with himself because human assistance was necessary or needed. The great army of loyal and mighty angels have expressed a desire to leave their place of abode and perform the gospel work in the earth. Sometimes men have seemed to think it a condescension on their part and a great favor shown to God, to give of their time, means, and talents to the Lord's work. We have frequently heard people complain when the needs of the Lord's cause have been presented and help called for. We have sometimes seen persons act and talk as if God were in need, and in his extremity had called upon mankind to assist him and relieve him of his embarrassment by helping to finance the gospel work. When we come to see this thing in its true light, man is made to seem exceedingly small, and God's interest in him is greatly magnified.

The whole arrangement is based upon the question of our needs, not upon God's needing our aid. It is true that the work is being carried forward by the funds furnished by humanity, but a greater work is being done for him who hears the call and heeds the commission in efforts to rescue and save. To become sons of God, we must possess divine nature, or godliness, which is godlikeness. “His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, . . . that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature.” 2 Peter 1: 3, 4.

Let us not have a narrow view of what divine nature is. We have several revelations of God's character. One act stands out as supreme. God looked upon his vast universe, perfect and pleasing in all his domain, except this one sphere. Here he saw subjects fallen and in darkness, doomed to die. It would seem natural for his love to extend to the unfallen, but we find divine nature manifesting a great love for a race of rebels. The record is, “God so loved the world, that he gave.” His love for the world, for rebels, was such as to lead him to give the gift that would be the greatest sacrifice to him, that he might save them. This is precisely what God designs to accomplish for us in giving us the experience of cultivating love for the lost.

This all emphasizes the importance of being prompted by the right motive in giving. An anxiety for our own safety and salvation will be set aside by a deep regard for the unsaved. It is well always to remember the expression of divine nature: “God so loved . . . that he gave.”

Recent words from the servant of the Lord are very clear on the points we have been considering in this article: “God is not dependent upon man for the support of his cause. He could have sent means direct from heaven to supply his treasury, if his providence had seen that was best for man. He might have devised means whereby angels would have been sent to publish the truth to the world without the agency of men. He might have written the truth upon the heavens, and let that declare to the world his requirements in living characters. God is not dependent upon any man's gold or silver. . . . Whatever necessity there is for our agency in the advancement of the cause of God, he has purposely arranged for our good. He has ordained that there should be a necessity for the cooperation of men, that they may keep in exercise their benevolence. The heart opened by one gift is not to become selfishly cold, and to close before the next is bestowed. The stream is to be continually flowing, thus keeping open the channel by acts of benevolence.”

These important truths give to the financial part of our work a great significance as related to our own spiritual growth; and it should become a more prominent part of our daily and weekly worship.

Mount Vernon, Ohio.