Is it not that just as separation to GOD issues in blessing, so does blessing from GOD constrain to service, and especially to the highest form of service, that which is most GOD-like, that of _Giving_? GOD so loved the world that He _gave_; CHRIST so loved the Church that He _gave_; the HOLY SPIRIT so loves the Church that He _gives_; and redeemed ones, created anew in CHRIST JESUS unto good works, when led by the SPIRIT, first _give_ themselves unto GOD, and then delight in such other free-will offerings as the LORD may enable them to present. This we believe is the reason why the chapter is found here, and is the true connection between its subject-matter and that of the preceding one. But why is it so long, so repetitious, and so tedious? The Bible is a wonderful book; it not only gives the history of the past, and guidance for the present, but in prophecy we have the history of ages yet to come--the course of events until the grand climax when GOD shall be all in all. Why, in a book so marvellous in its comprehensiveness, is so much space given to this record? GOD'S DELIGHT IN LOVE-GIFTS. Is it not in order to reveal the heart of GOD? to show His delight in the loving offerings of His servants? The record is _not_ tedious to Him; and it becomes marvellously interesting to us, when we get the key, and are brought into sympathy with the heart of Him who finds infinite satisfaction in each gift, of each one of His children, which is the outcome of gratitude and love. In the days of our LORD'S life on earth, when the shadow of the cross was already upon Him, one only amongst all His followers--a woman, Mary--had understood and really taken in His repeated declaration of the sufferings that awaited Him; and when she came to anoint Him beforehand for the burial, and broke the precious alabaster box _she had reserved for this very purpose_, the thief who kept the bag had only angry words of criticism and reproach. How sweet to her wounded spirit was her MASTER'S commendation, "She hath done what she could!" And He added, "Wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her." On an earlier occasion, likewise, as He sat over against the treasury, many that were rich cast in large sums of silver and of gold, but He turned from them and their gifts to draw attention to a certain poor widow who brought two mites and cast them in. She had gladdened the heart of Him who was the Creator of all wealth, and the real Owner of it all. She, said He, had given more than they all: for she _of her want_ had given _all_ that she had! And of her, as of Mary, it is true that in whatsoever language the Word of GOD is translated, in whatsoever clime it is read, the MASTER'S commendation is made known.