Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org

It is the privilege of the churches of Christ to support the ministry of
his gospel among them. Those who do not contribute their part to the
support of the gospel ministry either care nothing for it, or derive no good
from it. Nothing can be more reasonable than to devote a portion of the
earthly good which we receive from the free mercy of God, to his own
service; especially when by doing it we are essentially serving ourselves.
If the ministers of God give up their whole time, talents, and strength, to
watch over, labour for, and instruct the people in spiritual things, justice
requires that they shall receive their support from the work. How
worthless and wicked must that man be who is continually receiving good
from the Lord's hands without restoring any part for the support of true
religion and for charitable purposes! To such God says, "Their table shall
become a snare to them," and that he will curse their blessings. God
expects returns of gratitude in this way from every man; he that has much
should give plenteously; he that has little should do his diligence to give
of that little.
It is an honour to be permitted to do any thing for the support of public
worship; and he must have a strange, unfeeling, ungodly heart, who does
not esteem it a high privilege to have a stone of his own laying or
procuring in the house of God. How easily might all the buildings
necessary for the purpose of public worship be raised, if the money that
is spent in needless self-indulgence by ourselves, our sons, and our
daughters, were devoted to this purpose! By sacrifices of this kind the
house of the Lord would be soon built, and the "top stone brought on with
shouting, Grace, grace unto it!"
Though I had been almost exhausted with my yesterday's work, yet
they insisted on my preaching at Lisburne at eleven, as it was their
quarterly meeting. In vain I urged and expostulated. They said, "Surely,
you came out to preach, and why should you not preach at every
opportunity?" "I must rest." "Surely, you can rest after preaching!" I
replied, "I must preach to-morrow at Lurgan, and shall have but little time
to rest." "O, the more you preach, the more strength you will get." "I came
out for the sake of health and rest." "O, rest when you return home." "I