There is no saying more true than that of the apostle Paul, "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." This divine law of justice is a promise of heaven to those who do good, as well as a warning that discord and suffering await those who do evil. If one would reap a harvest of good things he must sow good seed; in other words, he must do good. To do good he must give. Time, talents, and earthly possessions must be given freely and cheerfully for the good of others.
It is not so much a question of what one has to give as how he gives. "For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not." The will, however, cannot suffice for the deed. No matter how willing a man may declare himself to be, if he does nothing, he receives no reward. God requires all that can be done with the means at hand.
In Proverbs we read. "The liberal soul shall be made fat." Liberality is not limited to those who have an abundance from a material point of view. The servant with five talents is not of necessity more liberal than the servant who makes the best possible use of his one talent. The widow who gave her mite gave more liberally than those who, of their abundance, cast rich gifts into the treasury. The liberal man is the one who gives freely of what he has, be it much or little.
