Excerpt from Hy Pickering's 1,000 Acts and Facts as quoted in Treasury of Gospel Gems Volume IV by Theodore W. Engstrom, Zondervan Publishing House ca. 1946:
GIVE OF YOUR BEST
William Colgate, a name now world famous in connection with soap, left home because the family was so poor. He started for New York City and on the tow path an old canal boat captain asked him where he was going, and had a word of prayer with him. When they arose from their knees, the old captain said, "William, what can you do?" "Make tallow candles and soft soap," he replied. "Well," said the captain, "give your heart to God and ten cents out of every dollar you earn, and maybe God will make you a great soap maker some day." Young Colgate did this, and then increased to fifteen cents on a dollar and then to twenty-five and on up until he was giving half his income to God's work. Before he died, it is said, he gave his entire income to carry on God's work in the world. 'Give, and it shall be given unto you.' Luke 6:38
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And again, in Matthew 25:29 we read this: 'For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.' Young Mr. Colgate took what he had been given and used it for God's glory. The more he earned the more he gave away. This is God's math. Our Wednesday night Bible Study touched on this subject.
2 Corinthians 9:7 says we are to be happy about giving to God's work: 'Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.' What appears to be foolishness and nonsense to the people around us is merely logical, reasonable and common sense in God's kingdom.
Luke 16:10 'Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.' Everything we have comes from God. Are we being faithful with the little we have been given? Are we using our 'very little' to grow God's kingdom?
Just remember: we cannot out-give God. Whatever He gives us, He expects us to use for His glory and His honor. When we do that, use our talents and gifts for Him, then He promises to bless us mightily. And we can start today.
