Written by: John Sernaque
Stewardship
CS - Counsels on Stewardship (1940) Chapter 7— Receiving to Impart
Wherever there is life in a church, there is increase and growth. There is also a constant interchange, taking and giving out, receiving and returning to the Lord His own. To every true believer God imparts light and blessing, and this the believer imparts to others in the work that he does for the Lord. As he gives of that which he receives, his capacity for receiving is increased. Room is made for fresh supplies of grace and truth. Clearer light, increased knowledge, are his. On this giving and receiving depend the life and growth of the church. He who receives, but never gives, soon ceases to receive. If the truth does not flow from him to others, he loses his capacity to receive. We must impart the goods of heaven, if we would receive fresh blessing. {CS 36.1}
The Lord does not propose to come to this world, and lay down gold and silver for the advancement of His work. He supplies men with resources, that by their gifts and offerings they may keep His work advancing. The one purpose above all others for which God’s gifts should be used is the sustaining of workers in the harvest field. And if men will become channels through which heaven’s blessing can flow to others, the Lord will keep the channel supplied. It is not returning to the Lord His own that makes men poor; withholding tends to poverty.... {CS 36.2}
Receiving and giving of our means are similar to receiving and giving of the Holy Spirit. If we continue to receive, yet fail to impart unto others that which we have received, God will not continue to bless us. We cannot store up these treasures for ourselves without imparting them unto others. These treasures will cease to be given by God because they are meant to be imparted unto those who are in need and to carry out His plan of salvation. We are to share these gifts unselfishly amongst the brethren in order to continue to advance God’s work. Once we impart these gifts, there is room for us to receive more. We become a gateway for heaven’s blessings which flow from us to others. Therefore, God will continue to supply these continuous blessings to us. Let us continue to advance His work with our gifts and offerings that souls may be saved for His heavenly kingdom.
Our king and gracious Father,
We thank you for you continuous blessings upon us, so that we may continue to impart these blessings to help the needy and continue the work of salvation You have appointed for us to do. We pray that we all can be channels that supply heaven’s blessings to the workers in the harvest field. We thank You for providing for all our needs in abundance. We pray that we remain faithful in our giving and offerings that are needed in these last days. The harvest is plenty but the workers are few, so we pray that we may continue to receive Your blessings for souls to be saved. We thank You for this opportunity to be co laborers with You in Your plan of salvation. We are sorry and repent of our sins and ask for forgiveness. We thank You and praise You, in the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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