Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-02-04
THE MEASURE or 1T.
The Proof OF Our Love Is In What and
How and What We Give. n

The proof of love is in giving. A love
that gives nothing, that makes no sacri-,
fees. but asks all, is not love; it is self
ishness. Love is large and generous,
high and holy, while selfshness is mar
row and greedy, low and mean. 1t is
the very essence of sin. He that seeks
only his own, loves not God or man,
and to love only self is to miss tho
sweetness of life, it's hope, its aim, it's
end, and to starve the soul to death.
God would not be what He is IL lie
did not love, and it is because He loves
that He gives. All that He gives to the
angels which do his bidding we know
not. All that they give to Him we
know not. We do know that they give
glad service and glorious praise; give,
we doubt not, according to the measure
Of their capacity.
How could they know OF his love unless
He gave? 1t is by His giving that we
know His love. He gave not Christ for
the angels, but for us. We measure His
love to us by this gift. 1t was a gift
which we did not merit. 1t was not be-
cause we had done so we'll, been so true,
obeyed so implicitly, that the Gift was
sent. 1t was rather because we had
done so badly, and sinned SO grievously
and persistently. 1t was not because OF
our love; but God commendeth His
own love for us in that while we were
yet sinners Christ died for us. We
ought then to love Him because He first
loved as and gave Himself for us.
There are many who are sensible OF
Gods love and believe that they ought
to love Him in return. But how much?
They would measure carefully what
they give. They would not give more
than is strictly necessary. Something
Is required of them. They admit that;
but what is it? How much, or rathcri
how little? They will give 1T, whatever
it is, just as they give their due to the
tax gatherer-the exact amount, not a
farthing more. With some it seems to
be summed up in the giving of their
names to the church. In answering the
question: "What must do to be
saved?" they put the emphasis on the
second word. If it is to join tho church,
they will give that; IL it is to read the
Scriptures, or pray in public, or servo
as n church officer, or pay pew rent, or
contribute to missions, they will give
these also. What is 1t? How much2
What must / give?
How little and sordid the love that In
guires so diligently how meagerly It
may give and give Mt all! The Phar-
isees we're quite as generous. They we're
scrupulous in measuring their obedi-
ence to the technical requirements of
the law. They gave the full 1.-THE OF
mint, anise and cummln. They gave
religiously whatwas exacted--honestly,
but not generously; and Christ con-
demned them. That was not love. It
was too cool and calculating, too care
full for the interests of self, too mig
gardly. Christ commended the widow
who cast two mites into the treasury,
and said she gave more than those who
gave much larger sums. Her gift was
the measure of her love; she gave all
she had. Their gifts were the measure
of their prudence; they gave out OF their
abundance what was convenient.
Love is not only the measure of Civ
iIg, 1t is that which adds value to Civ
ing. III one gives freely and gladly that
which costs something, that which in
wolves sacrifice, he gives it out Of love.
Sacrifice is the token of love. In the
gift OF Christ love speaks In the sacri-
flee in tones which sound the depths OF
our hearts. Our love in return, IL genu-
ile, will be like the Divine love. We
shall not be anxious to inquire: How
much must ! give? How much am
taxed? What is my share? That Is
the language OF barter. We want what
the apostle had-a constraining love;
love broad and deep and generous Like
that which inspired Christ; a love tina.
is anxious to give lavishly; a love which
does not offer money in communication
for personal service, or praise for help
TO q neighbor, or something which
costs nothing instead of the sacrifices
of generous heart.
To sum 1t all up, Christ wants us.
He gave Himself for us; he asks that we
give ourselves to him, body and soul,
mind and strength, all that is within
us. This done, we shall not be careful
to dole out what remains as our out
ward possession.-N. Y. Independent.