Much of the giving that is done is of the nature of buying off from the Lord. Here is a man who punctiliously contributes one-tenth of what he makes, with which sum [177] he thinks to have bought from God and from his own conscience the privilege of consuming the other nine-tenths upon himself. Here is another who, by the gift of five, ten, or a hundred dollars, has rolled an enormous burden of obligation from his heart--obligation which he felt to help, lift up, teach, bless others, as God did him. But now he has bought off. It is very convenient. It is easy--suspiciously easy. And it is plausible--for in doing so is he not giving his labor to the Lord? Is he not helping men in supporting those that do help? Now let me not be misunderstood. Certainly it is right to give; it is even a Christian duty; and in helping those who work for Christ we have a share in their work and reward. But there are things we can not do by proxy. I can not pay a man to speak the loving word, to touch with warm, loving, helping hand my sinning fellow who daily comes within my reach. I can not neglect my gift to teach or edify or comfort, perhaps persuade myself that I have no such gift, and turn my attention wholly to money-making, intending the while to pay some one to exercise my gift on my behalf. These things, I say, can not be done. Furthermore, when I give in a mean, slavish spirit, to release myself from obligation, to ease my conscience in my worldly way, to buy off from God--this is not a sacrifice well pleasing to him. But a gift of faith and a sacrifice of love is very precious to him. Take heed. This age tries to put everything on a money basis. But the work of God today needs consecrated hearts and hands more than gifts of money.

[TAG 177-178]