The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1893-11-12
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON VII.-NOV. 1.-THE
GRACE OF LIBERALITY
Golden Text: He Became Poor, That Ye
Through His Poverty Might BE Rich
Cor. VII: 1-19.

Introductory the great council
ut Jerusalem in A. D. so, when the
| Gentiles were welcomed with the
Jews into the Christian church, Paul
promised to take up u collection
among the Gentle churches for the
| poor saints at Jerusalem. Paul had
been making this collection in
Macedonia, in Greece, and in Asia
Minor. The need of this collection
arose from the great numbers OF
strangers at Jerusalem from all parts
of the world, from the poverty
of most of the converts, and from the
| turbulent and unsettled state of the
people. The letter was written only
twelve years before the destruction of
Jerusalem. Agrippa II. was compelled
| to resort to ar tif1cial means, such as
| paving the streets of Jerusalem with
white marble, to provide work and
wages to the thousand OF idle labor
ers. Christians, being regarded as
renegades from the national faith
may have found it particularly difficult
70 earn their liv iving.-Peloubet.
/. Liberal Giving From Narrow
Means-vers. ia. 1. "We do" make,
''you to w.t." to know. Old English
for 'tcause you to know" ''Of the
! grace of God" in making so liberal,
so generous ''the churches of Mace
donia." Thecountry north of Greece.
\ to which belonged Thessalonica and
Phillip, where probably Paul was
writing.
2. "In a great trial of afiictione"
The severity of which may be gathered
from the storm of opposition in which
they rose into existence.-Schaff.
"The abundance of their joy and their
deep poverty" In spite of their
troubles they displayed great joy,
and in spite of their poverty
they displayed great liberality.
1.-THE abundance of their joy .
abounded unto the riches of their lib
erality." The joy of new found sal
vation not only overpowered all sense
of their deep poverty, but caused them
to give literally. "Liberality." The
Greek word means ''singleness of
heart" and app lied to giving, indi-
Gates the free giving that comes from
such heart.
3. For to their power. they
were willing of themselves Volun-
tarily. They had not to be urged,
nor waited to be asked.
4. ''Praying u.s. Rev Yer. 'Be-
seeching u.s." They begged as favor
to be allowed to join the other
churches in helping the brethren in
Judea. There are none too poor to
give something.
II. The Foundation of Liberality-
hoped" Far beyond anything they
had dared hope for. but first. :"
Above all "Gave their own selves to
the Lord" Themselves and all they
possessed was placed at the disposal
of Christ. ''And unto u.s." As those
who represented the cause of the
needy, and by whom their gifts, "by
the will of God," who had made them
the instruments, could reach those
they wished to aid.
III. The Culture of Liberality-
vers. 6, Z. 6. ''Insomuch that we de-
sired Titus" Who had once before
been sent by Paul to Corinth. ''Would
also finish in you" Titus was sent
back to Corinth with the letter. THE
same grace also" OF liberality.
z. therefore as ye abound in every
thing" Paul loved to commend the
disciples and say all the good he could
of them. Abound in this grace also"
There is always great danger that
some virtues will be neglected.
Nv. The Test of Love-verse 8. 81
speak not by commandment 1 exert
no authority as to what you should
do. "But by occasion of the forward
ness of others" Rev. Ver better In
stead of command he used the ex-
ample of Others. ITO prove the en-
certify" The genuineness, the |. ae
nature. ''Of your love" To Goi, to
Christ, and to the principles of his
kingdom.
v. The Example of Christ-vcrs-
9-12. 9. ''For ye know the grace" The
free undeserved favor Though he
was rich, yet for your sake he became
poor" He not only became man, but a
poor man. "That ye through his
poverty" Only thus could he reach all
men. "Might be rich" If he did so
much for us at so great cost, how can
we refrain from helping others.
10. ''And herein do l give nv ad- |
vice" Not command. "For this in |
expedient-" Rather, profitable
''Who have begun before The |
other churches "a year ago." Under
Titus. See yer. 6, and o: 2. ''But |
also to be forward" To be willing. |
Ready and wishing to give.
II. Now therefore perform COM
plete, perfect ''the doing" on the
ground that the principle on which
they had acted was just as true now
as it had been the year before.
s2. "If there be first a willing
mind" A disposition to give. 1T is
accepted" Rev. Yer, ''accepta BILE"
According to that a man hath, {" etc.
The accepta bility of all our offerings