The following story takes place sometime back in the 1800’s. It teaches us a great deal as we see how our brothers in Christ handled giving to missions.

The article cites the following quote by Seneca to help understand how these believers made the decisions that follow:1

“Charitable deeds are oftener owing to caprice, or to the pleasure yielded to the will of the donor, than to considerations of the relief or gratification afforded to the objects of them.” Seneca.

The article also uses the following quote:

“It is proper that alms should come out of a little purse as well as out of a great sack; but surely where there is plenty, charity is a duty, not a courtesy; it is a tribute imposed by Heaven upon us, and he is not a good subject who refuses to pay it.” Feltham.

Three Resolutions

At a missionary meeting held among the negroes in the West Indies, these three resolutions were agreed upon:

We will all give something.

We will all give as God has enabled us.

We will all give willingly.



The Attitude of the Rich Man

As soon as the meeting was over, a leading negro took his seat at the table, with pen and ink, to put down what each came to give. Many came forward and gave, some more and some less. Amongst those that came was a rich old negro, almost as rich as all the others put together, and threw down upon the table a small silver coin.

“Take dat back again,”

said the negro that received the money;

“Dat may be according to de first resolution, but it not according to de second.”

The rich man accordingly took it up, and hobbled back to his seat again in a great rage. One after another came forward, and as almost all gave more than himself, he was fairly ashamed of himself, and again threw down a piece of money on the table, saying,

“Dare! take dat!”

It was a valuable piece of gold; but it was given so ill-temperedly, that the negro answered again,

“No! dat won’t do yet! It may be according to de first and second resolution, but it is not according to de last;”

and he was obliged to take up his coin again. Still angry at himself and all the rest, he sat a long time, till nearly all were gone, and then came up to the table, and with a smile on his face, and very willingly, gave a large sum to the treasurer.

“Very well,” said the negro, “dat will do; dat according to all de resolutions.”

The Lessons to be Learned

1. Be careful of your attitude when you give.
2. Be generous and the more you have means you can give more.
3. We should give with a good attitude and heart for God.
4. Your giving or generosity tells a lot about who you are. Do you give to be seen? Do you give with strings attached? Do you feel your money entitles you to a certain control?
5. Too many richer people feel the need to be recognized. They feel their gift entitles them to certain rights over the less fortunate.