Sunday
August 9
1. WILLING TO GIVE
a. Describe an example of a highly successful fund-raising. Exodus 36:3, 5, 6.
“The plan of Moses to raise means for the building of the tabernacle was highly successful. No urging was necessary. Nor did he employ any of the devices to which churches in our day so often resort. He made no grand feast. He did not invite the people to scenes of gaiety, dancing, and general amusement; neither did he institute lotteries, nor anything of this profane order, to obtain means to erect the tabernacle for God. The Lord directed Moses to invite the children of Israel to bring their offerings. He was to accept gifts from everyone that gave willingly, from his heart. And the offerings came in so great abundance that Moses bade the people cease bringing, for they had supplied more than could be used.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 529.
b. From all the blessings and benefits received from the Lord, how much are we returning to the Giver? 1 Chronicles 29:13–16.
“We possess nothing, can offer nothing in value, in work, in faith, which we have not first received of God.”—Faith and Works, p. 22.
Monday
August 10
2. GIVING TO THE LORD
a. What example recorded in the Bible should encourage us to give wholeheartedly to the Lord’s cause? Mark 12:41–44.
“The act of the widow who cast two mites—all that she had—into the treasury is placed on record for the encouragement of those who, struggling with poverty, still desire by their gifts to aid the cause of God. . . . To make her offering, the widow had deprived herself of even the necessities of life, trusting God to supply her needs for the morrow.”—The Act of the Apostles, p. 342.
“Christ esteemed [the poor widow’s] gift more valuable than the large offerings of the most wealthy. They gave of their abundance. They would not feel the least privation because of their offerings. But the widow had deprived herself of even the necessaries of life to make her little offering. She could not see how her future wants were to be supplied. She had no husband to support her in want. She trusted God for the morrow. The value of the gift is not estimated so much by the amount that is given as by the proportion and by the motive which prompts the gift.”—Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 667.
b. What motive should prompt us to give our offerings to the Lord? Psalm 116:1, 17, 18.
“The widow’s mite has been like a tiny stream flowing down through the ages, widening and deepening in its course, and contributing in a thousand directions to the extension of the truth and the relief of the needy. The influence of that small gift has acted and reacted upon thousands of hearts in every age and in every country. As the result, unnumbered gifts have flowed into the treasury of the Lord from the liberal, self-denying poor. And again, her example has stimulated to good works thousands of ease-loving, selfish, and doubting ones, and their gifts also have gone to swell the value of her offering.”—Counsels on Stewardship, p. 178.
“There are but few as poor as the widow who gave her two mites as an offering to God. The gift was small, yet it was all her living, and she was commended by the Master. He regarded the two mites of the poor widow as a greater contribution than the rich gifts of the wealthy. He did not measure the value of the offering by its amount, but by the motive, the cheerfulness and purity of the action.”—The Review and Herald, January 4, 1881.
Tuesday
August 11
3. THE NEEDY MISSIONARY FIELDS
a. What did Jesus say about the need of the great mission field? John 4:35; Matthew 9:37, 38.
“If all our people paid a faithful tithe, there would be more means in the treasury to support the laborers already in the field, and to send forth still more laborers into the fields that are ripe for the harvest.”—The Review and Herald, April 14, 1903.
“God desires people to pray and to plan for the advancement of His work. But, like Cornelius, we are to unite praying with giving. Our prayers and our alms are to come up before God as a memorial. Faith without works is dead; and without a living faith it is impossible to please God. While we pray, we are to give all we possibly can, both of our labor and our means, for the fulfillment of our prayers.”—Atlantic Union Gleaner, June 17, 1903.
“As new fields open for gospel effort, the church must act quickly in sending missionaries to enter these fields. Special efforts must be made, while the angels are holding the four winds. All can now do something. Those who cannot be spared from the home field, or who are not fitted to go abroad, can give of their means; and all can pray that the Lord of the harvest shall raise up laborers. Pray, brethren, pray earnestly, that the hearts of some who are doing very little, and of others who have as yet done nothing, may be opened, and that the means which God has entrusted to them may be used wisely in sustaining His cause at home and abroad, to the glory of His name.”—The Review and Herald, April 14, 1910.
b. What is the gospel charge given to Christ’s followers? How long will it be in force? How, only, can it be accomplished? Matthew 28:19, 20; 2 Timothy 4:2–5.
“As the work enlarges, means will be needed to carry it forward in all its branches. Those who have been converted to the truth and been made partakers of His grace may become coworkers with Christ by making voluntary sacrifices and freewill offerings to Him. And when the members of the church wish in their hearts that there would be no more calls for means, they virtually say that they are content that the cause of God shall not progress.”—Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 464.
Wednesday
August 12
4. THE LORD WILL BLESS
a. What will make effective the means which we contribute, whether much or little? Deuteronomy 28:2–6; 2 Corinthians 9:7, 8.
“The offerings of little children may be acceptable and pleasing to God. In accordance with the spirit that prompts the gifts will be the value of the offering. The poor, by following the rule of the apostle [Paul] and laying by a small sum every week, help to swell the treasury, and their gifts are wholly acceptable to God; for they make just as great, and even greater, sacrifices than their more wealthy brethren.”—Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 130.
“Families in poverty, who had experienced the sanctifying influence of the truth, and who therefore prized it, and felt grateful to God for it, have thought that they could and should deprive themselves of even the necessaries of life, in order to bring in their offerings to the treasury of the Lord. Some have deprived themselves of articles of clothing which they really needed to make them comfortable. Others have sold their only cow, and have dedicated to God the means thus received. In the sincerity of their souls, with many tears of gratitude because it was their privilege to do this for the cause of God, they have bowed before the Lord with their offering, and have invoked His blessing upon it as they sent it forth, praying that it might be the means of bringing the knowledge of the truth to souls in darkness.”—Counsels on Stewardship, p. 179.
“The very act of giving expands the heart of the giver, and unites him more fully to the Redeemer of the world.”—Ibid., p. 30.
b. What counsel is given to those who possess many houses and lands? Luke 12:33, 34; 1 Timothy 6:17–19.
“[Conscientious souls who believe the truth] often deprive themselves even of the apparent necessities of life; while there are men and women who, possessing houses and lands, cling to their earthly treasure with selfish tenacity, and do not have faith enough in the message and in God to put their means into His work. To these last are especially applicable the words of Christ, ‘Sell that ye have, and give alms’ (Luke 12:33).”—Ibid., p. 58.
“It is too late now to cling to worldly treasures. Soon, unnecessary houses and lands will be of no benefit to anyone, for the curse of God will rest more and more heavily upon the earth.”—Manuscript Releases, vol. 16, p. 348.
Thursday
August 13
5. THE SPIRIT OF SACRIFICE
a. What did Jesus do to save the world? 2 Corinthians 8:9; Philippians 2:7, 8. What appeals are made to us today?
“Those who are acquiring means, and adding to their possessions, are far behind [to sacrifice offerings to God of their abundance]. They do comparatively nothing to what they might. They are withholding, and robbing God, for they are fearful they shall come to want. They dare not trust God. This is one of the reasons that, as a people, we are so sickly and so many are falling into their graves.”—Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 199.
“The necessities of the work now demand a greater outlay than ever before. The Lord calls upon His people to make every effort to curtail their expenses. Again I plead that instead of spending money for pictures of yourself and your friends, you should turn it into another channel. Let the money that has been devoted to the gratification of self, flow into the Lord’s treasury to sustain those who are working to save perishing souls.”—The General Conference Bulletin, April 1, 1897.
b. What is promised to those who make sacrifices and donate means to advance God’s cause? John 4:36; Psalm 126:5, 6.
“Of all the joys that await the redeemed in the earth made new, one of the highest will be the privilege of mingling our voices with the voices of those whom we have helped to save, in praise and adoration to the One who put into our hearts a desire to give. As God hath prospered us, let us now do all in our power to further the interests of His kingdom.”—The Review and Herald, September 10, 1908.
Friday
August 14
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
a. How did Moses successfully raise means to build the first tabernacle?
b. Why were the two mites of one poor widow so extraordinarily fruitful?
c. Why are offerings—not just the tithe—so important in these last days?
d. What is wrong with surplus property as we near the end of probation?
e. How will sacrificial giving to God’s cause soon be richly rewarded?