Written by: John Sernaque
Stewardship
CS - Counsels on Stewardship (1940) Chapter 6—Preaching Practical Sermons
Expands the Heart, Unites With Christ
The offerings of the poor, given through self-denial to aid in extending the precious light of saving truth, will not only be a sweet-smelling savor to God, and wholly acceptable to Him as a consecrated gift, but the very act of giving expands the heart of the giver, and unites him more fully to the Redeemer of the world. He was rich; but for our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich. The smallest sums given cheerfully by those who are in limited circumstances are fully as acceptable to God, and even of more value in His sight, than the offerings of the rich who can bestow their thousands, and yet exercise no self-denial and feel no lack.—The Review and Herald, October 31, 1878. {CS 30.2}
God does not necessarily look at how much one gives but rather on the value of what one is giving. A rich person who gives from their abundance without lacking anything is not as valuable to God as the person who gives their all, like the widow who gave her last two mites. Jesus was rich but for our sakes became poor so through His poverty we may be rich. The self-denial that characterizes Jesus expands the heart of the giver and unites one with Christ. As Jesus sacrificed all for humanity, gifts from the poor are wholly acceptable to God as a consecrated gift. God loves a cheerful giver, including the smallest sums offered by the poor.
Our kind and gracious Father,
We thank You for giving us the privilege and honor of being co laborers with You in spreading the precious light of saving truth. We pray that our gifts are wholly acceptable unto You and will unite us closer to You. We pray that You bless our gifts so that more and more souls who are perishing in their sins may be saved. We pray that You help us and strengthen us to continue the work You have appointed for us to do. We pray that we are able to carry out Your plan of salvation, that it may go out far and wide, even to the four corners of the world. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayers, in the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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