Benevolence

from

Pearls from Many Seas

I Shall not Pass Again this Way

The bread that bringeth strength I want to give;
The water pure that bids the thirsty live.
I want to help the fainting, day by day.
I'm sure I shall not pass again this way.

I want to give the oil of joy for tears,
The faith to conquer crowding doubts and fears.
Beauty for ashes may I give alway.
I'm sure I shall not pass again this way.

I want to give good measure running o'er,
And into angry hearts I want to pour
The answer soft that turneth wrath away.
I'm sure I shall not pass again this way.

I want to give to others hope and faith;
I want to do all that the Master saith;
I want to do aright from day to day.
I'm sure I shall not pass again this way.

--Anonymous

Doing Good a Blessing to Ourselves

If we view this microcosm, the human body, we shall find that the heart does not receive the blood to store it up; but while it pumps it in at one valve, it sends it forth at another. The blood is always circulating everywhere and is stagnant nowhere. The same is true of all the fluids in a healthy body; they are in a constant state of expenditure. If one cell stores for a few moments its peculiar secretion, it only retains it till it is perfectly fitted for its appointed use in the body; for if any cell in the body should begin to store up its secretion, its store would soon become the cause of inveterate disease. Nay, the organ would soon lose the power to secrete at all, if it did not give forth its products. The whole of the human system lives by giving. The eye can not say to the foot: "I have no need of thee, and will not guide thee." For if it does not perform its watchful office, the whole man will be in the ditch, and the eye will be covered with mire. If the members refuse to contribute to the general stock, the whole body will become poverty-stricken, and be given up to the bankruptcy of death. Let us learn, then, from the analogy of nature, the great lesson that, to get, we must give; that, to accumulate, we must scatter; that, to make ourselves happy, we must make others happy; and that, to get good and become spiritually vigorous, we must do good and seek the spiritual good of others.

--Charles Spurgeon

She Did Her Best

If I can live
To make some pale face brighter, and to give
A second luster to some tear-dimmed eye,
Or e'en impart
One throb of comfort to an aching heart,
Or cheer some way-worn soul in passing by--

If I can lend
A strong hand to the fallen, or defend
The right against a single envious stain,
My life, though bare,
Perhaps, of much that seemeth dear and fair
To us of earth, will not have been in vain.

The purest joy--
Most near to Heaven--far from earth's alloy,
Is bidding cloud to give way to sun and shine;
And 'twill be well
If on that day of days the angels tell
Of me: "She did her best for one of Thine."

--Mildred McNeal

Benevolence Versus Extravagance

The greatest obstacle to charity in the Christian church today is the fact that men expend so much on their table and women so much on their dress, they have got nothing left for the work of God and the world's betterment.

--Talmage

Condensed Comments

He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed;
For he giveth of his bread to the poor. --Solomon.

We only begin to realize the value of our possessions when we commence to do good to other with them. No earthly investment pays so large an interest as charity. --Joseph Cook.