Further Thought: The heavenly record book of remembrance also

notes the financial faithfulness of God’s family members. “The record-

ing angel makes a faithful record of every offering dedicated to God

and put into the treasury, and also of the final result of the means thus

bestowed. The eye of God takes cognizance of every farthing devoted to

His cause, and of the willingness or reluctance of the giver. The motive

in giving is also chronicled. Those self-sacrificing, consecrated ones

who render back to God the things that are His, as He requires of them,

will be rewarded according to their works. Even though the means thus

consecrated be misapplied, so that it does not accomplish the object

which the donor had in view—the glory of God and the salvation of

souls—those who made the sacrifice in sincerity of soul, with an eye

single to the glory of God, will not lose their reward.”—Ellen G. White,

Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 518.

“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. If we act

out our faith, we shall not be forgotten by God. He marks every deed

of love and self-denial. He will open ways whereby we may show our

faith by our works.”—Ellen G. White, Atlantic Union Gleaner, June

17, 1903.

Discussion Questions:

Ê How do praying and giving go together? That is, how might

praying help you know what to give as well as where, when, and

how much to give?

Ë A well-known magazine in the United States told about young

professionals on Wall Street who were making so much money and

yet were so miserable, so empty, so full of angst and worry. One of

them, a portfolio manager, said: “What does it matter after I die if

I had made an extra one percent gain in my portfolio?” What les-

sons can we take from this story about how giving, even sacrificial

giving, can be so spiritually beneficial to the giver in that it helps

free us from the “deceitfulness of riches” (Matt. 13:22)?

Ì In the first Ellen G. White quote above, notice the part about

funds being “misapplied.” Why is it important for those of us who

give to keep her point in mind?