the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Golden Treasury
He has dispersed, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever. Psalms 112:9. In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand. Ecclesiastes 11:6.
Those that lay up treasures on earth suffer nothing to lie long useless, but lend it out as fast as they can; and such as desire to reap soon and plentifully, are careful to sow soon and plentifully. Therefore lend and sow ye also in good time, for there may be times when you cannot show charity, or at least not so largely.
Luther, on this passage, says, “We must not pretend to pay the debt of charity with some poor mites and pences. If you will give something, give bountifully; take your hands full as if you were sowing, like the poor widow with her two mites, which she sowed out freely, though it was her whole substance. But the rich ones were not liberal, but covetously offered only what they could spare very well. It is not said, we should sow, and consequently take hands full; for God, loving a cheerful giver, will in his turn, dispense again bountifully with you, that ye shall have all sufficiency in all things, to every good work. (But God dispensing so bountifully with you, why should you then grudge him any thing, or make only such poor returns? ) For what we do to our neighbour, is the same as if it were done to God himself."
Awake, my charity, and feed
The hungry soul, and clothe the poor;
In heaven are found no sons of need,
There all these duties are no more.
