The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1904-03-02

itaney to speak and a displeasure te
hear on this question may find some
encouragement in the in the Jaet that
Paul speaks more on this subject
than on any other. In the text before
MS he speaks of the 'tGraee of Giving.
Everywhere he puts it on this basis.
There is no collecting the pastor 3
salary" raising the sections pay or
"begging for the church with Paul.
But rather "see that We abound in
this grace also" What is grace
What are the graces of the Christian
Possibly this may help us to see the
force of his injunction. In. Cor. Is
he speaks of faith, hope, love and the
church has long spoken of them as
the three Christian graees. In the
text he SAYS that they abound IN GER
tain graces:- fnith, speech-every word +,
knowledge of Gods dealings, in their
Christian activities. aud in their love
for the brethren, \ we'll rounded
church in many respects. But there
is strong hint that they are wanting
when it comes to the matter of giving.
Therefore he says "see that We abound
in this grace also" Thus he puts il
on an equal with the other recognized
graees of the Christian life.
Let us note some of the elements
that out giving must have if it is to be
II grace.
1t must be gracious-with grace.
The take it md 60" sort of giving is
not a grace but rather the II am glad
to give it. when yon need more call
again, -
,. 1t must he with gratitude. We
should be grateful for all that Christ
has done for US and then let our gifts
express our gratefulness. For ye
know the grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ that, though he was rich yet
for our sakes he became poor that We
through his poverty might became
poor that we through his poverty
might become rich, y , Cor. 80.
3. Closely allied to this Ia the
thought that il must be thankfully
given. We should be very thankful
that we by our gifts can return to
Christ something for all his goodness
Is us and thus help ia his work aud
bring glory to his name
1 Then let our giving be with
cheerfulness. You de not want a friend
TO mike you gift if at the same time
he makes You feel that it is given of II
necessity God loves cheerful Civ
er. 2 Cor. 81.
3. Give as God has prospered yon
is another mark of the Grace of Civ
ing. Cor. 1862 Have you been
largely blessed? Give TO God a
thank Offering. Many women, and n
few men, find much of the Grace of
Giving III the thank Offering box.
"Ciivo as God has prospered.h This
principle lies back of all Christian
work and necessarily puts the church
on different basis than that of the
Insurance Company and the Secret
Society Scripturally there is and Of
its nature there can be no system of
taxes and dues in the church The
Widows two mites which makes one
farthing was the gift of grace and
Christ contrasted it with the larger
gifts of the rich to The advantage of
the poor widow Mark l2;l1 as.
6. Freely may be noted as another
element of the grace of giving. For
what was the widow commended?
Was it not for her liberalty? She
gave only two mites but it was 'all
her living" She might have kept
both to buy bread she needed Or at
least she might have kept one and
gwen one. The most of MS would
have sold that to give one-half was
liberality itself especially when the
one-half left was so small and so need
ed. In Cor. 8;l-5 Paul speaks in the
highest terms of 'the grace of God"
in the churches of Macedonia, how
out of their deep poverty they gave
abundantly and with such enrnestness
az to urge him to take it.
If our giving is TINS viewed in this
sevenfold light it will become a grace
and what is now viewed as one OF the
ineonvneiences and "have to be put
up withs" of Christian service will be-
come one of the most helpful, inspir-
ing and blessed elements Of our life
Let us unite in thanking God that he
has made it possible for us to give to
him and that that giving may become
grace.
AT the First Baptist Church last