The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1893-12-01
Christian Giving.
F. L. HALL

s'Give and it shall be given unto you.
Luke 6 80.
In considering this Scripture it mus
be understood that it is more inclusiv
than merely to help to support benevolen
and charitable institutions. The true ide.
of giving is illustrated by that of an In
dian chief trying to appease the wrath o
the ''Great Spirit" First, he gave hi
tOmalawk, bow and arrows, and, witt
some reluctance, the beads from his neck
his jewelry and feathers from his head
But this did not give him comfort and
finally as if in despair, he says Take
poor Indian. too" So the true idea OF
giving, as well as the claims of God. pass.
es by our possessions aud reaches the very
center of all we have and are. We are to
first give ourselves to God. 'sMy son give
me thine heart" Prov. % 26, This
must be done in order to have the religious
duties we preform acceptable to God.
Israel, in the days of the prophet Micah,
inquired "Wherewith shall come before
the Lord, and bow myself before the high
God: Shall l come before him with burnt
offerings, with calves of ear olds Will
the Lord be pleased with thousands of
rams or with ten thousands of rivers of
oil? Shall give my frst-born for my
transgression, the fruit of my body for
the sin of my soul:': They were ready
to bring the best they had and an abund-
ance Of it. They were even willing to
copy after the PhGnicians and those of
Carthage and give the best of their child
rem as sin Offering. But this was not
sufficient to make expiation for their sins.
All these could not satisfy the claims Of
justice and restore them to the favor of
God. Neither would they serve as sub
stitute for the conservation of their hearts
and lives to be devoted to God.
The prophet settles all dispute in the
m after in the eight verse by saying "He
[God1 hath showed thee, o man, what is
good; and what both the Lord require of
thee, but to 10 justly, to love mercy and
to walk humbly with thy God?'' Adam
Clark in speaking of the phrase, ITO do |
JUSTLY" says, ''to give all their tlues, ny |
To God his due; thy heart, thy body, soul |
and spirit; thy wisdom. understanding and |
judgment; to love him with all thy heart,
soul, mind and strength and thy neighbor
rs thy self. This is Gods due and right |
from every man." If it was offerings
merely that the Lord wanted he need not |
trouble us for the little We have, for the
;attle upon thousand hills are his, al
he beasts of the forest belong to him; and
he further declares, ''the world and the
'ullness thereof belong to him. 1t is not
'urs but us that God wants.
His designin requiring us to give our
elves to him is two-fold: for our good
md for his glory. For our good, be
ause it places us where he can give to us. If
t were only to give ourselves toh i'm, to be
his property, without the promise of favor
n blessing in return, it would be infinitely
'etter than any other. But notice it is
give, and it shall be given unto you.'
10 give ourselves to God is placing us in
receptive attitude for all his storehouse.
The giving of ourselves to God places us
Under the best form of government and
he most promising facilities to warrant ,
uccess.
And these are all necessary to success.
'aboth secured fine vineyard and priced ]
highly; but the treacherous rulers, Ahab
nd Jezebel, took both his life and vine
ard. Our treasures are under govern
nent that secures both us and ours. We
an lay up treasures and have them secure.
gain, giving ourselves to God makes it
ossible for the Holy Ghost to quicken in.
life and activity all the latent forces of
ur being. No person can ever know.t the
Of his being, only as his DOW. j.
rs are unearthed and energized by the q
[oay Ghost. The Lord who made us md =
It all our faculties in their order can make z
he best possible use of them. His interest
rs is Of the very highest type, that 3
'hich is born Of love and has in view our Il
ighest welfare that infinite wisdom can "
Ian. To give the Lord chance to work
US In that which Is well pleasing in his
ight-giv'ng to our nature the very inn. !,
RES Of his own likeness and image u
rings us under that wonderful tain Of e
romises that "All things This chastise- 2
'ents, rebukes, judgments, and all his d
rovfdenees, with IN abundant supply OF
nder mercies] work together for our
bod" Give and then receive Is the order. =
any would like to reverse it. This brings n
where giving to the support Of missions
I'd the various needs Of the church. n
rings from q pure motive, and is char. :.
4erized with willingness that meets the &
vine approval. God wants to transform
thoroughly-the naughty spirit to the y
eek and lowly, the willfal 10 the gentle
N me covetous to being veu liberal u
- III