Exodus 35:29 The children of Israel brought a willing offering to the LORD, every man and woman… There was once a missionary meeting held in the West Indies among them, at which these three resolutions were agreed upon — 1. We will all give something. 2. We will give as God has prospered us. 3. We will all give willingly.As soon as the meeting was over, a leading man took his seat at the table, with pen and ink, to put down what each came to give. Many came forward to give, some more and some less. Amongst those that came was a rich old man, almost as rich as all the others put together, and threw down upon the table a small silver coin. "Take dat back again," said the man that received the money; "dat may be according to de first resolution, but it not according to de second." The rich man accordingly took it up, and hobbled back to his seat in a great rage. One after another came forward, and as almost all gave more than himself, he was fairly ashamed of himself, and again threw down a piece of money on the table, saying, "Dare! take that!" It was a valuable piece of money: but it was given so ill-temperedly, that the man answered again, "No! dat won't do yet! It may be according to de first and second resolutions, but it is not according to de last"; and he was obliged to take up his coin again. Still angry at himself and all the rest, he sat a long time, till nearly all were gone, and then came up to the table, and with a smile on his face, and very willingly, gave a large sum to the treasurer. "Very well," said the man, "dat will do; dat according to all de resolutions." Whatever we do for the worship and service of God, we should do it freely, cheerfully, and cordially. "God loveth a cheerful giver." If cheerful giving to God's cause was required under the old dispensation, how much more is it required under the new! Parallel Verses KJV: The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses. |
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