January 21,1998
Dear Br. R.L.
I hope that you and Clyde are in good health. I am sorry it has taken me so long to write, Sevilla and I think of you folks often, wondering how you are? I hope the recent rains haven’t caused Tom’s creek to overflow its banks again.
We had an interesting experience the other day that I want to
share with you. We had several items of feed in the refrigerator
that we wanted to share with our Landlord and his wife because
we thought they would enjoy them. We thought they might appreciate
it. Well they didn’t.
She objected to taking them and he sternly admonished us that
they didn’t need anything.
Why do you suppose they reacted this way? They have given us many
things and seem to be sincere, generous, and friendly people,
but when I gave them a gift, they were quite upset. From their
reaction, I believe they assumed that the motive, behind our gift,
was one of pity for their impoverished condition, for he mentioned,
when criticizing me, that we weren’t as financially well
off as they were.
Now that response seems to me to be a childish display of pride.
They assumed that we felt sorry for them, when in reality, that
was the furtherest thought from our minds. We give to others for
two reasons and pity is not one of them. We give as an appreciation
for the gifts the Lord has given us. God is constantly showering
us with the sunshine, rain, the beauties of nature, food, water,
air, clothes, homes, automobiles, friends, health, life, love,
eyesight, hearing, speech, the ability to walk, and with ears
that can hear. Most of these gifts he gave us when we were born,
others he gave us when we needed them. The gift of hands and feet
and a brain enables us to earn a living which is also a gift from
God. We are constantly receiving gifts from him, therefore, because
we can’t give him anything that is not already his, we give
of our substance to others, in order to share his blessings.
Our second reason for giving is to bring joy to the heart of the
receiver. By endeavoring to make someone else happy, we are blessed.
But this isn’t our motive, only the consequences. We desire
others to be happy, to be filled with joy because this is another
manifestation of God’s character. He gives that we may rejoice,
so we give that others may also rejoice. When we give something
that we know the other person will appreciate or that will gladden
their heart, then we represent Christ. Thus the gift is not given
for selfish reasons; it is pride that frequently lies behind generosity.
We want to be thought of as good and generous, therefore, when
we give something of value, the unspoken thought is one of superiority.
I’m better then you are and this gift proves it.
When I challenged our Landlord, concerning his refusal to accept
our gift, I inadvertently revealed the selfish reasons behind
his giving and he resented it, although he probably didn’t
understand the principals behind his own reactions. He only know
that I made him uncomfortable. If we refuse to accept a gift from
someone else but insist that they take a gift from us, then our
motives are suspect, probably arising out of pride or selfishness,
neither one of which are Christian attributes.
Giving and receiving gifts from family and our spiritual brothers
and sisters is a good thing, but we must be careful not to let
our pride get in the way, for when I refuse to accept a blessing
from others, I deny them a blessing. This is very selfish and
wrong headed thinking. An example, of the principal, I am trying
to illustrate is found in the colorful photographs I include with
this letter which I hope will be of interest to you. I include
them for the soul reason of bringing joy or happiness to the brother
to whom I write.
Please do not assume that I am speaking to you in particular for
I am not, but, when I write to brothers, I speak to all men, not
just to you. I assume that others will read the many letters I
send each week, therefore, these words are general, not meant
specifically for you. We are all brothers and sisters through
Christ. We belong to one family, even if we don’t recognize
or accept it. We all have one father, God, one older brother,
Christ.
Let each of us follow the example of Christ and open our hands
and hearts liberally to all of our brothers and sisters with a
sincere desire to make them happy and their lives filled with
rejoicing. We must also be careful not to place stumbling blocks
in their way should they decide to be generous with us.
May God bless you, my dear brother with love, joy, and happiness.
Allen A. Benson