Difference between revisions of "Page:Woman-1949.djvu/13"

33. What. therefore. ~s our Christian attitude to such women? WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM FOR KINGDOM WORK I F THE Watchtower Bible and Tract Society were a commercial orgar.ization, selling some product or serVlce, or peddling a religious message, in this world where dollar-getting is the order of the day, people would not ask concerning the Society: "Vllere does all the money come from for this~" But because the Society does not follow the method of C:lrlstendom's religious crg"nizaticns of tukmg up money collections or demanding tlthes, the question is frequently asked. The Society has a Godly purpose, which purpose was clearly stated in the charter granted it in 1884, to wit: "The purpose for which the ccrporation is formed is, the dissemi- nation of Bible truths in various lang'..lages by means of the publication of tracts, pamph:ets, papcrs and other reli- gious documents, and by the u"e of all other lawful means which its Board of Directors, duly constituted, shall deem expedient for the furtherance of the purpose stated." From the yery formation of the Society, even before its legal incorporation in 1884 for the above-stated work, persons devoted to God recognized that, since this work is of Him, he will make regular provision for it to continue. To this year of 1949 Jehovah God has performed this miraculous provision. How? Through willing, unforced, unsolicited givers. Persons have been moved by love of God and his Word and by His spirit to contribute what they had of time; effort, ability and money to the spreading of the message of man's salvation by God's kingdom. The many prh'ileges of supporting the world-wide WItness to God's kingdom have been grasped voluntarily and cheerfully, and only God's spirit leads a person to do that. All along the Lord God has permitted men and women to contribute of their own free will money, or material wealth, to the support of His work on earth. If this were not so, the widow would not have dropped her two coins, her last mite, into the collection box, causing Jesus to say she donated more than all other contributors. (Luke 21: 1-4) "God loveth a cheer- ful giver." (2 Cor. 9: 7) Thus the money has come from thousands of men and women, in all stations of life and in all parts of the earth, who want to share in helpmg the Society as an organization to advance Bible-education among all peoples, with no financial profit to themselves and with no financial profit to the Society or anyone connected with it. In doing this, such contributors act wisely, discreetly, look:ng beyond this present uncertain world to the ap- proaching new world of eternal life, peace and plenty. ,Yith money and other material things, or, "mammon," as Jesus called them, at Luke 16: 9, they are making friends with Jehovah God and Christ Jesus, and through these two they hope to gain eternal dwellings in the new world, there to serve Them forever. It is the pleasure of The Watchtower to haye many thou- sands of new readers. To all our readers, new and old, we delight to bring information concerning the present expansion of true worship of God on earth. The WatchtolUel' itself is published in twenty-two languages, but the Society operates through more than sixty Branches and literature depots in over ninety different lands. In addition to this, it has sent abroad more than 500 missionaries graduated from the Watchtower Bible Sehool of Gilead, whoP.1 it supports financially, besides maintaining other hundreds of home missionaries or special publishers and traveling representatives. Also, yearly millions of pieces of literature are distributed absolutely free of cost to those accepting. And the work is not by any means over now, but we look forward and are preparing for an even greater worl, of bringing the saving news of God's kingdom by Chl'lst to hundreds of millions in all lands. Hence, in sincerity, persons often inquire as to how a work of such magnitude is maintained, It bClllg obvious