Our Lord’s Teachings About Money 45 Much giving is not giving at all, but only lending or exchang ing. He who gives to another of whom he expects to receive as much again, is trading. He is seeking gain, and is selfish. What he is after is not another’s profit, but his own advantage. To invite to one’s table those who will invite him again, is simply as if a kindness were done to a business acquaintance as a basis for boldness in asking a similar favor when needed. This is reciprocity, and may be even mean and calculating. True giving has another’s good solely in view, and hence bestows upon those who cannot and will not repay, who are too destitute to pay back, and too degraded, perhaps, to appre ciate what is done for them. That is like God’s giving to the evil and unthankful. That is the giving prompted by love. To ask, therefore, “Will it pay?” betrays the selfish spirit. He is the noblest, truest giver who thinks only of the blessing he can bring to another’s body and soul. He casts his bread- seed beside all waters. He hears the cry of want and woe, and is concerned only to supply the want and assuage the woe. This sort of giving shows God-likeness, and by it we grow into the perfection of benevolence. VIII. SANCTIFIED GIVING Our Lord announces also a law of sanctification. “The altar sanctifieth the gift ”—association gives dignity to an offering (Matt. 23:19). I f the cause to which we contribute is exalted it ennobles and exalts the offering to its own plane. No two objects can or ought to appeal to us with equal force unless they are equal in moral worth and dignity, and a discern ing giver will respond most to what is worthiest. God’s altar was to the Jew the central focus of all g ifts; it was associated with His worship, and the whole calendar of fasts and feasts moved round it. The gift laid upon it acquired a new dignity by so being deposited upon it. Some objects which appeal for gifts we are at liberty to set aside because they are not sacred. We may give or not as we judge best, for they
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