The Newtown bee., 1905-12-15
Ten Pages.
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
LITTLE SERMONS.
GIVING AND RECEIVING.-BY O.
WRIGHT.
LITTLE SERMONS

GIVING AND RECEIvING.-BY O.
WRIGHT.
Remember the words Of the Lord Jesus
how he himself said 1t Is more blessed t.
give than 70 receive" Acts 20: IS.
The season of giving whichc com
memorates in very happy manner
the most precious gift Of God to men
is at hand; and it is worth while tt
think, IN this connection, how much
is involved in our custom Of giving
and receiving gifts in the name Of
Him whose gift of himself has made
Christmas the most joyful festival in
the world.
| Why do we give? Because it is the
custom, perhaps. We need not always
wait to catechise our motives when
we know that we are doing the proper
thing. To do as others do when there
is no question of right and wrong is to
do our duty as members of the social
circle. We are only parts of the
whole. And If, being happy in our
selves we are moved to help to make
others happy also, we do we'll. But
there are different kinds of happiness,
as there are various sources, and de-
grees of the same. And therefore
there is room for the exercise of in
telligence, and the spirit of wisdom in
giving, and in receiving gifts. Moth
ing that we do, perhaps, calls for more
careful discretion than the distribu-
tion Of the good things of this life. 1t
is quite as easy to do harm as good,
even with the best of intentions.
Therefore little forethought Is the
part of prudence, and a little under
standing of the philosophy of what we
propose to do may help to purify and
exalt our pleasures.
The Lord taught us to give, and
how to give, and as in our text, the
superior happiness of giving, "Give,"
He says, land it shall be given unto
you; good measure, pressed down,
shaken together, running over, shall
they give into your bosom" Giving
and receiving is the natural, mutual
expression of personal interest and
goodwill. The exchange of gifts is
the bond of friendship, and the token
Of love. Moreover, as like begets like,
giving in right spirit promotes real
benevolence. Good is contagious as
we'll as evil. II you would catch no.
BILE spirit 60 where there is a true en-
thusiasm for good. And If you would
infect others with high ideals, and no.
ly living, 60 among men and be what
you seek to make them. This life is
very largely a matter Of giving and re-
ceiving. And the more we put into
it, the more we shall get out OF it.
But let us understand that our CIV
ing must, in the nature of the case be
the real thing, or in the Christian
point of view it is no giving at all. AS
the Lord said to the rich young man,
"Go sell that thou hast, and give to
the poor, and thou shalt have treasure
in heaven: and come, follow me-"
Sacrifice is the test of real giving.
Giving should have no reference to re-
ceiving. 1t should be pure and SIM
pie, and with no anticipation of some
thing in return. Barter is not giving.
1t is trade and not religion. "Lend
hoping for nothing again." He says.
1t makes one happy to receive any
expression of good will; but it makes
one more happy to give good gifts.
Giving and receiving are both acts Of
grace, when they are according to the
divine love. There is nothing more
like our heavenly Fathers will than
the spirit Of giving.
The kind and degree Of happiness
which we may experience will depend
upon the powers in US which are call
ed into action. The higher the facul-
ty, or function, the more exalted the
pleasure of it's exercise. We can do
more, nor better than to be like God,
the giver of every good and perfect
gift. The law Of life is activity, and
giving is more active than receiving.
The highest enjoyment is positive,
rather than negative, and to give is to
exert the heart, and mind, and will.
The giver is positive, the receiver pas
sive. Giving also implies superiority
of it's kind; and each has his gift, or
possession which he bestows. There
fore giving and receiving we mutually
help to give each other the blessedness
OF the divine grace.
Miss Bernice Booth, who has been