The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-01
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR SEPTEMBER S.

lSn CnriSt1anS, Ill Cor. Ike, ILL
Golden Text: III Cor. viii. 0-Com-
mcntary by the Rev. ID. M. Stearas.
1. "For rs touching the ministering to
the saints, it is supertluous for me to write
to YOU" The great privilege of minister
ing to others, whether in things temporal
or rspiritual is very Godlike one, for THE
Son Of man came not to BE- ministered un-
to, but to minister, and to give His life a
ransom for many (Math. Xx., 28). He is
our great and only example in all things if
we have first Of oil truly received Him and
thus been saved by His blood (Eph. l., 6, y.
Until we ere saved by Him we cannot serve
Him, but when once we have become chill
dren OF God by faith in Him then our
great work is to serve the living and true
God.
2. "Your zeal hath provoked very many"
AS we consider Him Of whom 1t Is written,
1.-THE zeal of thine house hath eaten me up'
Cps. Xix, 9; John H., ID, and who, though
that we through His poverty might be rich
GI Cor. will, 81, we will be increasingly
filled with His spirit and manifest His zeal
GI Cor. ill.,, 1S). Then as others see Him
in us they will admire Him and want to be
like Him. When oncewe are saved by Him,
He asks US to hand over to Him our bodies
that He may dwell in US and walk in US to
the glory Of God the Father (Rom. xiii, l., 2;
II Cor. vi, 16; viii, 81.
8. "Yet have sent the brethren lest our
boasting of you should be in vain in this
behalf; that, as I said, ye may be
ready" There is often seeming readi-
ness that does not always result in a per-
formance, either through lack OF sincerity
or some temptation Of the adversary.
Hence Paul sent Titus and brother whose
praise was in all the churches (II Cor.
viii, 1919 designating them both as "the
messengers Of the churches, the glory Of
Christ" To these brethren, and through
them. the believers at Corinth were to
show the proof of their love.
4. LEST haply il they Of Macedonia
come with me and find you unprepared,
we should be ashamed in this same conf
dent boasting." II we trust In people and
In their promises we shall be very apt to
be ashamed, for the best intentions of peo-
pie may come to naught. John, by the
Spirit, exhorts us so to abide In Christ
that we shall not be ashamed before Him
at His coming G John H., 2S). II God is
working in us, His thoughts and works are
sure to be fulfilled Elsa. XIV, "a; Jer. H.,
29). But IL we are, apart from Him, seek
ing to accomplish somewhat, it will be
very apt to fall through.
5. "Therefore thought 1t necessary to
exhort the brethren, that they would 90 be-
fore unto you and make up beforehand
your bounty" There seems to me to be
little more OF looking to men than to God
in all this exhortation and fearfulness on
|. the part OF Paul. It seems good deal like
the way things are done to-day, rather than
when, in the days Of Moses, the people gave
so willingly and abundantly that they had
to be restrained from bringing (Ex., xxxvi.,
6,D.
6. "But this say, He which soweth spar
ingly shall reap also sparingly, and he
which soweth bountifully shall reap also
bountifully." Or, as it Is written in Prov.
XII, "a, 'There is that scattereth and yet
increaseth, and there is that withholdeth
more than Is meet, but 1t tendeth to pov-
erty." And again in Prov. xiii, Z, 'There
Is that maketh himself rich, yet hath moth
ing; there is that maketh himself poor yet
hath great riches" No farmer expects
great harvest from small sowing; how can
Christian think otherwise?
T. Every man according as he purposeth
in his heart so let him give; not grudg-
ingly or OF necessity, for God loveth a
cheerful giver." All service to be accept
able must bo heart service unto God, in the
name Of the Lord Jesus and In the power of
the Spirit. Those who worship God must
worship Him In spirit and IN truth. No
more outward form counts for anything.
God 80 loved that He gave. The Son Of
God loved me and gave Himself for me,
and unless we cheerfully give we have not
His spirit. The Greek word hilaros, here
translated cheerful, is not found elsewhere.
You can easily see in 1t our word hilarity,
suggesting Gods pleasure in one who gives
with laughter because he is so glad of the
opportunity.
8. "And God is able to make all grace
abound toward you; that ye always, hav-
ing all suff1ciency in all things may abound
in every good work" However close one
may be naturally, and not inclined to give,
the exceeding, abundant grace Of God is
able to transform even such one into a
hilarious giver, and such a miracle Of grace
brings great glory to God. So in every other
phase Of the Christian life God is able to
make manifest in the most unlikely person
the very spirit Of Christ. "Not that we are
sufficient of ourselves to think anything as
of ourselves, but our sufficiency is Of God"
GI Cor. ill.,. 81. very little Christian liv-
ing and Christian work seem to satisfy
many who bear his beautiful names-pen-
MES for God, but dollars many for bicy-
Gle, or a spring suit, or cigars, or ball
dress; few moments for him, but many
hours day for recreation which must be
had.
8, 10. This parenthesis is q quotation
from q psalm (cXii.), which speaks OF the
blessedness Of the upright man who lives
in the fear Of the Lord; to such God will
give the power Of doing good beyond their
utmost thought. He will not only provide
that which we are to scatter, but He will
bless it rs we scatter 1t and cause it to in
crease and multiply like the five loaves OF
the lad which fed the 5000. The seed to be
sown is His, whether 1t be seed in the form
of His word or money or good deeds.
"The seed is the word Of God" "The sill
yer is mine and the gold is mine, saith the
Lord of Hosts" Good works are also pre-
pared for US to walk inn duke viii, IL;
Hag. H.. s; Eph. H., 10). When God sees
any one who is willing faithfully to scatter
seed He will abundantly supply both the
seed and His blessing, without which there
can be no increase q Cor. ILL.,, y.
II. being enriched in everything to
all bountifulness, which causeth through
US thanksgiving to God" AS we pass on
the good things of God people are blessed
and God is glorified, and the unspeakable
gift. our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, IS
magnifed. In everything we are enriched
by Him in all utterance and knowledge
q Cor l., 81 and blessed with all spiritual
blessings and everything pertaining to life
and godlness (Eph. l., 3; II Pet. l., 3)sthat
we may be channels through which He can
pass on, or make these things known to
others. 81 will bless thee, and thou shalt
be a blessing" Freely ye have received,
freely give" (Gen. Axii., 2; Math. T., 81.