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{Since the Heavenly Trade Is the Best Trade…
Exhortation and Counsel to Earthly Traders
Counsel Three: Search for the Cause of Your Afflictions
Cause: Covetous Withholding from God}
Covetous withholding from God turns away the blessing of God on people’s labor and tends to poverty. “There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty” (Proverbs 11:24 NKJV). Many think that lost that is laid out for God. What goes to pious uses, they consider to be lost for nothing.1207 Oh, how sparingly do most sow; it is as if they think their seed is thrown away! Thus they reap so sparingly (2 Corinthians 9:6).1208 People’s previous charity, because they are more like light rain showers than streams, are quickly dried up, so God withholds His showers also. People’s expenditures for God were previously abundant, but they now seem burdensome due to self-love and unbelief. While Alexander had hope for more, he never lacked a heart or hand to part with the frankincense and gold he had. When people’s charity fades, it is certain that their faith is failing. Few, in their scarcity, dare to give the first cake to the use and service of God as the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:13–14).1209 It is no wonder that the bin of flour and jar of oil run out; Christians become weary in well-doing and fail to scatter for God; this hinders their reaping and gathering (Galatians 6:9).1210 This was one of those sins that brought a curse and devourer on Israel’s increase (Malachi 3:9–11).1211 This sin is still as pregnant with blasting and crop diseases as it ever was.
1207The meaning of this sentence is unclear, possibly due to errors in the text. Another meaning might be, They consider nothing except what goes to pious uses, a reference possibly to superstitious practices, such as by Roman Catholics in regard to the purchase of indulgences and other “blessings.”
1208“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6 ESV).
1209“And Elijah said to her, ‘Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord God of Israel: “The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth”’” (1 Kings 17:13–14 NKJV).
1210“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary” (Galatians 6:9 NASB).
1211“‘You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes,’ says the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 3:9–11 NASB).
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