One of the great evidences of Christ's Godliness was his willingness to forsake all that he had as a God, and come to earth into the lowest conditions for our benefit. Paul is teaching that the evidence of our godliness is the willingness to share of our abundance, however big or small that may be, with those who have less. When I was a bishop, I marveled at the welfare program of the church. It amazed me how the money received from fast offerings blessed those in need, helped them maintain their dignity, and put them on their feet towards being self-sufficient. And it has amazed me how those who gave generously were blessed in an equal manner, not necessarily with material wealth, but with a change within their hearts that Moroni described as the Lord's gift of charity, of having the love of God fill our hearts.
When I was a bishop, I had a single mother with three children who were from Brazil. She was going to BYU on a scholarship that paid for her schooling, but beyond that, she had nothing. They had no car so they had to walk to the grocery store, the doctor, any place they needed or wanted to go unless a ward member happened see their need and took them. The church kept them in food so the kids wouldn't go hungry, although the mom often did. Because of the generosity of others, she eventually ended up with a used car. It was a clunker, but to them it was beautiful. Throughout it all, she learned the grace of humility, but never lost her dignity. She was determined to be successful so that she could help others in the same manner she had been helped. She completed a degree in nursing and got a good job in Salt Lake and then went on to a masters degree in another area of medicine. She ended up marrying a successful man and now has realized all of her dreams. It is my experience that those who willingly give of what they have to others, eventually end up with far more than they would have anticipated in both material and spiritual things.
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