7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

As he doth purpose in heart

If we are intent on working for God and not self, we shall not stand for a particular job, but take whatever comes to hand. We shall keep on doing, however humble the task. To refuse to work on the ground of dignity-to object to being a door-keeper because not elected as a presiding brother, or to hold back from giving away literature because not appointed to lecture-is to show that we have far from learned the conditions which make service acceptable either to God or man.

The traits we need to cultivate in ourselves, and to look for in those whom we wish to guide and manage our ecclesial affairs, are such as spring out of a love of the truth-a love which is engendered by studying and thinking about the truth in all its wonderful and beautiful bearings.

These traits are humility, willingness, cheerfulness, enthusiasm, patience - qualities which stand out in the character of every Bible worthy, and are infinitely more desirable than a ready tongue, or a respectable appearance.

Bro AT Jannaway.

The Christadelphian, May 1907

8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Surely there is nothing sadder or more tragic than individuals claiming to be brethren and sisters of Christ who "do not know what to do with their time": who "have nothing to do". There is enough to do to fill a hundred lifetimes, if people would open their eyes, and get their little minds off themselves. NO ONE does enough for others, in service and kindness and remembrance. NO ONE studies enough. NO ONE writes enough letters. NO ONE preaches the Truth enough.

True brethren and sisters of Christ will be perpetually thankful for every precious moment with joyful usefulness in His glorious service. Many worldly organizations are crying for volunteers to do urgently needed humanitarian work. This is truly a waste of time for Christ's brethren and sisters, who have a multitude of far higher and more eternally useful things pressing to be done; but at least this fact is a standing condemnation of any who do not FILL their lives with SOME useful and helpful activity. The empty-headed, infantile world more and more seeks baby-toys and games and vacuous, spoon-fed Disney "entertainment". Let the children of wisdom be far, far above this pitiful life-wasting folly! "Always abound in the work of the Lord."

The more we devote our lives to constructively and actively doing the work of God, the less likely we are to sin. This is not a guarantee, for the flesh is very deceptive, but it is a great help. The more we keep God in mind, the more He will strengthen us against weakness and folly. We are much more likely to sink into sin when our guard is down, and our minds are on present things. Knowing this, we are responsible for our failures if we put ourselves in the channel of failure.

Bro Growcott

11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

Bountifulness

...to serve the cause which we have espoused as the only cause among mortal men deserving whole-souled and exclusive consecration.

That cause is the cause of life against death; knowledge against ignorance; wisdom against folly; holiness against impurity; the honour of God against the impiety of men; the glorious future against the dead past and the corrupt and dying present -which, gathered into more concrete phrases, may be described as the Bible against unbelief; the true teaching thereof against the false and absurd and monstrous tenets of modern orthodoxy, consolidated in the popular religious systems of the time; the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ against the unscriptural and unsaving Gospel preached in churches, chapels, and meeting-houses."

My days and my ways 29

15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

We never tire of the fresh air and the beautiful light, or grow weary of the blue sky or the face of nature. Wholesome food is always acceptable to a healthy palate. There is something in the adaptations of things that makes these things perennial in their power to satisfy.

So it is with the things of the Spirit of God to the new man formed within us by the Truth. They are always fresh and sweet to the taste. They are always beautiful and holy and strengthening. They never grow stale or pall upon the spirits.

They are adapted to our highest desires. They alone can supply the demand of our ultimate aspirations. This is true of the mental relations of this mortal state. How much more must it be true of the Spirit state in which all earthly affinities will have been absorbed in the wonderful physical transmutation which changes this corruptible and mortal body into the incorruptible and immortal.

Seasons 2. 49