“施舍的，就当诚实”（罗12:8）。{FH.33.1}
慷慨施舍的义务无论如何也不可忽略。然而人无论贫富，都不可有片时以为他们向上帝的奉献能弥补他们基督徒品格上的亏缺。大使徒说过：“我若将所有的周济穷人，又舍己身叫人焚烧，却没有爱，仍然与我无益”（林前13:3）。……{FH.33.2}
上帝要我们奉献礼物与供物，是要在我们心中培养慈善的精神。祂并不倚靠我们以获得维持祂圣工的金钱。祂借着先知的口宣布：“树林中的百兽是我的，千山上的牲畜也是我的……”（诗50:10）。{FH.33.3}
上帝原可让天使作祂真理的使者。祂原可用祂自己的声音使人知道祂的旨意，象祂在西奈山颁布律法时一样。但祂已决定使用男男女女来做这项工作。我们唯有在实现上帝造我们的神圣旨意时，生命才是一项福气。上帝委托给我们的一切财富，若不用来满足我们自己的日常需要和我们周围之人的需要，并且借着推进上帝在地上的圣工来荣耀祂，就会成为一种咒诅。{FH.33.4}
天上至尊的君王放弃了祂的最高统治权，祂与父同在的荣耀，甚至祂自己的性命来拯救我们。而今我们要为祂做什么呢？上帝不许自称为祂儿女的人为自己活！……凡是最先最好的都理当属于祂。……祂要求我们在今生将自己的一切才干都交给兑换银钱的。……{FH.33.5}
我们不应视十分之一为我们奉献的上限。犹太人除了十分之一还要向上帝奉献许多供物。我们既享有福音的福气，难道不能做得与从前不那么优惠的体制下所做一样多，以维持上帝的圣工吗？随着当代圣工在地上的扩展，求助的呼声也在不断增长。……{FH.33.6}
我们不应不耐烦地喊叫说：“奉献难道没有尽头吗？” 除非我不希望无穷的天父向我们赐恩。我们不但应忠心缴纳原属上帝的十分之一，还应奉献其它的贡物于上帝的府库中，作为感恩祭。但愿我们怀着快乐的心情，将祂所赐一切恩惠的初熟的果子，献与创造主──就是我们最好的财产和至善至圣的服务。——《评论与通讯》，1886年2月9日。{FH.33.7}
A Steward’s Duty, January 21
He who gives, [let him do it] with liberality.?Romans 12:8.?{FH 33.1}[1]
Liberality is a duty on no account to be neglected; but let not rich or poor for a moment entertain the thought that their offerings to God can atone for their defects of Christian character. Says the great apostle, “Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” ...?{FH 33.2}[2]
It is to cultivate a spirit of benevolence in us that the Lord calls for our gifts and offerings. He is not dependent upon us for means to sustain His cause. He declares by the prophet, “Every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.” ...?{FH 33.3}[3]
God might have made angels the ambassadors of His truth. He might have made known His will, as He proclaimed the law from Sinai, with His own voice. But He has chosen to employ men and women to do this work. And it is only as we fulfill the divine purpose in our creation that life can be a blessing to us. All the riches intrusted to us will prove only a curse unless we employ them to relieve our own daily wants and the wants of the needy around us, and to glorify God by advancing His cause in the earth.?{FH 33.4}[4]
The Majesty of heaven yielded up His high command, His glory with the Father, and even His own life to save us. And now what will we do for Him? God forbid that His professed children should live for themselves! ... The first and best of everything rightfully belongs to Him.... It is in this life that He requires all our talents to be put out to the exchangers....?{FH 33.5}[5]
We should not look upon the tithe as the limit of our liberality. The Jews were required to bring to God numerous offerings besides the tithe; and shall not we, who enjoy the blessings of the gospel, do as much to sustain God’s cause as was done in the former, less-favored dispensation? As the work for this time is extending in the earth, the calls for help are constantly increasing....?{FH 33.6}[6]
Not till we wish the infinite Father to cease bestowing His gifts on us should we impatiently exclaim, Is there no end of giving? Not only should we faithfully render to God our tithes, which He claims as His own, but we should bring a tribute to His treasury as an offering of gratitude. Let us with joyful hearts bring to our Creator the firstfruits of all His bounties—our choicest possessions, our best and holiest service.—The Review and Herald, February 9, 1886.?{FH 33.7}[7]
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