Freely Receive, Freely Give

A young woman had just given birth to a baby. After the required 6 week waiting period, sheagain attendedchurch, this timewith her baby. In between the lesson study and the 11 o'clock hour, there was an opportunity for the congregation to meet and greet each other.The members were so pleased to see the mother and her baby, that they flocked to her side.All too soon, the call to be seated for the 11 o'clock hour was given, and theservice began.Butwithin just afew minutes, the once contented baby began to cry.His mother however was not alarmed,for this was the baby's scheduled meal time.Pulling his blanketoutof the diaper bag,she carefully placed itover her shoulder, arm, and baby. With her freehand she cautiously and discreetly prepared herself to feed him.In just a few minutes, the baby was fed, burped andplaced in his seat. Pulling out a notepad, and pen, themotherbegan to write as sheglanced at her watch."How curious," thought the pastor, as he observed her unusual behavior. Notwanting to be distracted, he did not continue to look in

her direction.

At the end of the service, the pastor, as was his custom, positioned himself by the maindoor to greet the exiting congregation. Seeing the young mother approach, the pastorhopedhe'd be able to discretely askwhat she been writing. Quietly, heasked her how she and the baby were doing. Not quite satisfied with her answer, the pastor then queried her as to her note taking in church. "Oh," she responded, I'm keeping an accountas tohow much milk the baby drinks and how long he feeds.""What ever for?" questioned the pastor now thoroughly intrigued. "Well," she answered, "I intend to bill him when hegrows up.Thinking thatshe was joking,the pastor laughed. She however remained serious, and added, Ihave worked out a formula whereby I can calculate how much he will owe mefor the next few years of breast feeding, as well as wear and tear." "At the rate he's going, healready owes me a

few thousand dollars.""I'm actuallyplanning to addinterest, but since he's my son, I want to keep the rate low, so I haven't decided how much, but I do know that it will be compounded, after all,I think its only fair, don't you?" Speechless, the pastor stood there in amazement, his mouth open. The young mother, taking that as a her opportunity said, "good-bye, I'll be back next week." And with that she left.

Preposterous! you say. "How can a mother be so ridiculous as to bill her babyfor services of love that should be free?" "How could she even think to charge him interest, after all he didn't ask to be born." Say this, and you'd be right. That young woman's actions should be consideredoutrageous. And if she actually goes through with her plan, it would be scandalous. How, we wonder, could anyone be so foolish as to think thatit isgood to sell somethingas a commodity whichwas received freely. It may be profitable, yes, but good? No way.

TheJewish priestsin Jesus time were sellingto the people, that which should have been given to them free of charge. This was especially true of the animals slated forthe sanctuary service. Why? Because, the animal sacrifices and the gift of salvation hadliterallybeen given to themofGod by grace. Sister White says,

What was it that He saw as He looked upon that temple court converted into a place of merchandise? They were selling oxen and sheep and doves to those who would offer a sacrifice to God for their sins. There were many poor among the multitude, and they had been taught that in order to have their sins forgiven, they must have an offering and a sacrifice to present to God. Christ saw the poor, and the distressed, and the afflicted, in trouble and dismay, because they had not sufficient to purchase even a dove for an offering. The blind, the lame, the deaf, the afflicted, longed to present an offering for their sins, but the prices were so exorbitant they could not compass it. It seemed that there was no chance for them to have their sins pardoned. They knew that they were sinners, and needed an offering, but how could they obtain it? (E. G. white Notes, page 59).

The Sadducees controlled the temple business and they profited immensely. They had money- changers exchanging the Roman coin for the temple coin, this exchange was done at a profitto the Sadducees. When the people were to buyan animal for the sacrifice, it was sold at an exorbitant price so that only the wealthy could afford the purchase. This kept the poor believing, as is said above, that they could not ask for forgiveness and that therefore God did not favor them.The pain and misery of the

poor, along with the greed and malice of the wealthy,broke Christs heart and angered Him.Forgiveness ofsins, iniquities and transgressions wasto occurthrough the living sanctuary parable. It was the only place where sinners could findrefuge, peaceand rest. The Sadducees, through their avarice,effectively closed the door of hope to poor. This is whyMark 11:15-19 states,

Mark 11:15And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and
began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and

overthrewthe tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that

sold doves;
Mark 11:16And would not suffer that any man should carry [any] vessel
through the temple.
Mark 11:17 And He taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house
shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a
den of thieves.
Mark 11:18 And the scribes and chief priests heard [it], and sought how
they might destroy Him: for they feared Him, because all

thepeoplewere astonished at His doctrine.

Mark 11:19 And when even was come, He went out of the city.

Outrageous! Scandalous! you say. You wouldn’t it see that happening now. You are right, not in the same manner. We can all go to the temple, but how about the education centers. Manyfamilies cannot affordto have their children attend,so they find other options. They either send their children to the local public school, or if they can afford it, they find a parochial school of another denomination, and send their child there.What happensto the children of parents whofall behind in their school payments? The children are asked not to return, and depending on how old the child is, he or she may be sued. (This happened to someone I know personally, but goes against what Christ teaches in the scripture through the Apostle Paul).

Outrageous! Scandalous! you say. But by assimilating to the world's standards and practices regarding education and the accumulation of possessions, we have driven up the prices of our own literature, speakers, singers,vegetarian products and acute health care, tillitis barely affordable.

Christ says in Matthew 10:8, freely ye have received, freely give. This is merelyanother portal through which to view the gospel, which is "love to God supremely-- with your whole heart, soul, body, strength and mind, and

your neighbor as I have loved you." But,many of us don't want to practice this, because we want toprofitas didElishas assistant, Gehazi.Just as he converted God's blessing (the healing of Naaman's leprosy)into his personal financial commodity, we too as a group,do the same. We've unwittingly adopted thebelief system of the world regarding our commodities, " Whoever can afford what we are selling,and will pay for it, canhave it." Howpitiful.The poor brother who truly needsthe blessingis often kept in the dark, and on the fringes, because he cannot afford the repackaged blessing. Yes, you may say thatmany who are employed by the denomination are not wealthy. But as an institution, the Church is rich. It believes it is in need of nothing, for it has this message and that message, and this program, and that evangelistic thrust. "The world church is growing, can't yousee?" Yet, while we as a group are pleased with our condition,Christ is not. We have yet to have the soul temple cleansed again, and its sins blotted out for the time of the refreshing.Christhas given us, freely, the gift of repentanceand forgiveness. He has simply asked us to believe and receive it, that the blessing may rebound to others.

Freely He has given! Freely are we to receive and give again-- that our collective joy may be full!