Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-05-10
Atistellansous 8eadina.
sLEssEoNEss OF GIVING.
1t AccumuIates Treasure Beyond the
Reach Of Moths or Thieves.

receive."-Acts Xxx, 35.
| These are the words of the Great
Teacher. They did not have their orr
gin on earth. They are Of Celestial
birth. They breathe the atmosphere
of heaven; and you must go to heaven
to find their highest illustration and
confirmation.
This important truth Is not accepted
by the natural man. He does not see
any blessedness at all in giving. He
looks upon giving as kind Of neces-
sary evil that cannot be avoided: but
the less he can have to do with 1t the
better off he Is. If you say 1T Is more
blessed to receive than to give" he
does not hesitate to subscribe to that
Hence to learn the lesson you must at
tend the school of Christ. and come
under the tuition Of the Spirit Of God,
for 1t Is taught and learned nowhere
else on earth.
We do not know when and on what
occasion the Lord Jesus spoke these
words. They are not recorded in either
of the four gospels. This gem was res
cued by the Apostle Paul from the rub
bish of the past, and used to enforce
the Importance Of liberality upon the
elders of Ephesus. 1t has been record
ed by the inspiration of the Spirit to
correct our false ideas, and give us the
truth on this subject.
These words of the Lord Jesus i'm
ply that it is blessed to receive. This
needs no argument, for 1t Is accepted
everywhere. This fact Is what gives
point and force to the strange and
startling declaration Of Jesus that the
giver is more blessed than the receiv-
err. We have been accustomed to con-
gratulate the receiver upon his good
fortune; but it had not dawned upon
us. till these words Of the Lord Jesus
arrested our attention, that we ought
to bestow our most hearty congratu-
lations on the giver. And even now
we find it hard to accept even the
words of the Lord Jesus as meaning
what they say. We all desire to pos
sess the highest blessedness, but how
skeptical we are about securing 1t In
the way pointed out by the Great
Teacher. Deep down in our hearts we
still prefer to be receivers rather than
givers.
Yet this truth, though in conflict with
the universal judgment Of the natural
heart is capable of the most abundant
proof.
l. God is the most blessed Of all be-
ings, and He is the greatest Of all CIV
ers. He finds his highest blessedness
in giving. In creation He male the
numberless creatures that move In the
air, on the earth, and in the sea, all
dependent on his bounty for existence
and subsistence, that He might have
opportunity to give, and enjoy the
blessedness thereof. HE openeth His
hand and satisfieth the desires Of every
living thing"
In redemption God did not withhold
His very richest gift. The Father gave
His Son, the Son gave Himself. We
are indeed blessed in receiving saliva
ton, but God Is more blessed in giving
It, He Himself declares II am glori-
fled in them"
If then man would be blessed indeed,
he must be like God. But if we are
like God we will be givers.
2. Giving is more blessed than re-
ceiving because giving Is active While
receiving is passive. Giving calls into
exercise the better principles Of our
nature, and thus develops and strength
ems them. Thus giving builds up no
BILE, a Chrst-like character. Any
churl can receive, but it requires a
loving and generous spirit to give.
Love delights to give, and in giving
finds greater blessedness than in re-
ceiving. God so loved the world that
He gave
3. Giving out what Is received In
is Natures law. We receive in order
that we may have to give. The ocean
receives the water constantly flowing
into it, only to give it out again by
evaporation. The clouds receive the va
por only to give it out again In showers
to water the earth. The earth receiy-
es the showers that she may give to
the husbandmen the abundant harvest.
Man receives the fruit Of his labors,
the bount-- of his heavenly Father,
that he may give it out again to him
that needeth. Not to give Is to defeat
the very object Of receiving. Freely
We have received, freely give" Not to
give is to turn the blessing of receiving
Into Il curse. There is that wlthhold-
! eth more than is meet and 1t tended TO
Ipoverty." The Dead Sea has an inlet
but no outlet. 1t is always receiving
in, but gives out nothing. And so 1t l.
q sea of death. No fish or living crea-
ture is found in it's waters. So Is the
Imam that receives and does not give.
THAT man may breathe, but never
lives,
Who much receiveth but nothing
Whom none can love. whom none can
thank,
Creations blot, creations blank"
4. 1t is more blessed to give because
the decisions of the judgment day de-
mend upon it. Those who were givers
for Christ's sake will then be pro-
nounced blessed. Come ye blessed Of
MY Father, inherit the kingdom
for l was an hungered and ye gave"
5. 1t is more blessed to give because
giving for Christ's sake lays up treas
ure in heaven. Go thy way, sell
whatsoever thou hast, and give to the
poor, and thou shalt have treasure IN
heaven" Giving from love to Christ
is the philosopher's stone that turns