We were saddened to learn of the passing of our beloved brother V. P. Black. Without doubt, he was one of the greatest evangelists of our time, particularly as he taught the good news of giving by God’s people.

            Below are some of his words concerning the fact that scriptural giving is God-like:

       God is the greatest giver known to mankind. Jehovah gives so many things to us that we take for granted. The sun, moon, stars, water, springtime, summer, fall, winter and a thousand other things we take for granted. God has given us the Bible, the church, and the hope of heaven. We cannot think of God without thinking of giving.

       In John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The very heart of the gospel is, that God so loved that he gave. God not only gave but he gave sacrificially; he gave his only begotten son. God gives freely. Romans 8:32: “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” God gives liberally. James 1:5:  “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” One of the most God-like things that we can do is give. When we are God-like in giving, we will give freely and sacrificially and liberally. Paul calls upon us in Romans 12:1 to present our bodies to God. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Every member is a cloud or a sponge—which are you in this giving business? Every member is a clog or a channel in reference to giving.

       Someone has said: “Christians are like wells. You pump water from some; others you draw water from, then there is the over-flowing well.” We should all be like the overflowing well (Rust As A Witness, p. 65).

            I thank God for the good influence of V. P. Black, a man who was truly an overflowing well of goodness.