Written by: John Sernaque
Stewardship
CS - Counsels on Stewardship (1940) Chapter 2—Our Bountiful Benefactor
Only Way to Manifest Gratitude
The Lord does not need our offerings. We cannot enrich Him by our gifts. Says the psalmist: “All things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee.” Yet God permits us to show our appreciation of His mercies by self-sacrificing efforts to extend the same to others. This is the only way in which it is possible for us to manifest our gratitude and love to God. He has provided no other.—The Review and Herald, December 6, 1887. {CS 18.3}
God is so good to us and loves us so much. It is by His love and His mercies that we are sustained and are given the opportunity to excel in this life. God is our provider. We cannot bring to God anything that He does not have already. It is His desire that we demonstrate our appreciation to Him by making self-sacrificing efforts towards others. God has designed this system of benevolence for all to participate in. When we do our part, others will be blessed, and we will be blessed as well. It is a win-win system designed by God for eternity. God asks us to be cheerful givers. Express your love and gratitude to God today, and receive your eternal blessing forever.
Our Father,
We thank You for giving us this honor and privilege to be able to express our love and gratitude to You. You have given us Your system of giving, a system of benevolence to help others around us. We thank You that we are able to give freely and cheerfully, as You ask of us. We thank You for making the ultimate self-less sacrifice of Your only begotten son, that we may be saved. Forgive us if we have been selfish in our past and pray that You will help us become the self-less children You desire us to be. We return unto You by faith, so that others may be blessed to witness Your love and mercy towards them. We thank You and love You Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
