The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-09-07
THE TRUE
BLESSEDNESS

is more blessed to give than to re
ceive. Acts 20-35.
This is one of the sayings of Jesus
not recorded in the Gospels, but tran,
mited to US by Paul, it being a part
of his farewell address to the elders
of the Church at Ephesus.
If men and women could only be pre-
vailed on to believe it, there would be
revolution in the social condition of
the world, and there would be a con-
sequent transformation in millions of
individual lives. Despair would be
banished by hope, unrest give. way to
peace and happiness and selfishness
and cruelty disappear before a mighty
tide of benevolence and love that
would encompass the world in It's on
ward sweep and carry the song of joy
and freedom to every nation under
Heaven. In every age there have
been those who have learned the great
and precious truth contained and ex-
pressed in this saying of the Son of
man. They have been the salt of the
earth, the light of the world; they have
kept the race from being utterly des-
troyed by moral rottenness, and they
have held aloft the light of life to
guide the benighted millions. How
many take this as the rule of their
lives? While there are more perhaps
than many of us think, it is yet sadly
true that there are those who seem
utterly to disregard it and by their
conduct they reject and oppose it.
Some defy and rebel against this law
of God and wilfully surrender them
selves to selfishnes and assume that
getting is the supreme end and aim
of man. Among this class we find
those so far depraved as to oppose
and defame unselfishness when man
Tested by others. Sunken In the dark
and horrible slough of selfishness
themselves they are incensei that al
men have not fallen so low. To such
as these it seems almost useles to
appeal. The grace of God is so SOW
ereign and it is in the power of the
Lord Christ to save even these. but
how few of them are delivered ever
from their bondage?
This priceless saying is justified by
the common sense and the common ex-
perience of men. A man in one day
does ten kind deeds for ten different
people; he carries sunlight and COM
fort and strength to ten souls. An
other man on the some day receives
ten kind deeds from ten different
people. He does nothing that day for
any one. Which of the two will lay
bis head on his pillow at night with
the greatest strength of character
gained that day? Which of the two |
by his life has placed himself where |
ne can be most blessed of God? If
both men live for ten years or twenty |
years as they have lived that day, |
what will be the result as regards |
heir lives. character and destiny? |
These questions need not be an
,wered.
It is much easier to receive than to
rive. To give requires sacrifice, eff
ort and care 1t often involves suffer
ng and men are slow to sacrifice and
uffer. There is the heroic element
n man. In great emergencies 1t is /,
displayed in noble and heroic deeds. !,
But it is hard to get men to see that
very day, and that the little things
4 life call for heroic conduct and that
O the most obscure life in the most
idden corner there may come the re-
Yard of heroism.
The highest blessedness is in the =,
each of ALL 1t is blessed to receive
vhen that which is received is good
nd when it is RECEIVED lawfully. But
vhen we are not permitted to receive,
he greater blessedness may be ours
re can give. |,
That giving which does not carry the
oul with the gift is not real giving.
is counterfeit coin; money given
} the poor without sympathy for them
not the truest giving. A deed of
indness done in order to retain ones
# respect is not genuine kindness.
ut when the heart responds to the
inward act, a way is made in the Q
,ul of man for the coming of the v
ne blessedness. r
We are not to think of giving as re- a
ricted to material things. The soul y
man has wants gold and silver can g
1t satisfy and the heart has coin of Ii
J own more precious than diamonds le
81 have hepn somewhat cOStiyp hut 81