The Winslow mail., 1909-12-25
Paul on the { race
of Giving
Specially Arranged Tor Thisl ,pet

GOLDEN TCXT-''Reme1 tber the
words of the Lord Jesus, ho he said,
IT is more blessed TO give { an to re-
Acts 20:35.
Suggestion and Practical bought.
The Grace of Giving 1t; Blessed
ness and Principles.
1. The Immediate Object. The Col
lection for the Poor Disciples OF the
Mothehr C!.ruch in Jerusalem The
first thing in giving is heart to give;
Ythe next is an object that needs our
gifts. This also kindles our hearts
desire to give. The object which
called out the many wise pTecepts
which Paul wrote to the Corinthians,
was the need of the poor disciples at
Jerusalem This object as motive
was greatly strengthened by the fact
that by these gifts the members Of
the church at Jerusalem would be
bound closer to the Gentle Christians
! through this expression of love and
sympathy: and this new bond was
needed because there was no small
danger of rupture.
The Gentle Christians were living
In rich commercial centers. and while
few were of the wealthy class, all had
much more money in circulation than
the Christian Jews at Jerusalem,
Why the Jewish Christians Needed
I Help. Cd The Christians were, as a
rule, from the poorer classes. (2) The
opposition to them as Christians made
/ It difficult for them to obtain work for
/ their support.
/ II. The Privilege of Giving.-Vs. /,
J. We do to you to-wit, r. v, eve
make known to you" Cause you to
know the grace of God, the favor,
the privilege the expression of loving
kindness, the good will, beautiful, de-
lightful, and producing in them the
graces Of the Christian life, bestowed
on the churches of Macedonia, espe-
cially the church at Philippi, who re
peatedly sent donations to Paul to
help him in his work.
2. The abundance of their Joy. In
the next chapter we have a most in
teresting expression, God loveth
cheerful giver," he loves such a one
because he is a man after Gods own
heart, in perfect sympathy and har-
mony with him.
III. Giving Out of Poverty and Af-
fiiction.-V. g This abundance of Joy
! abounded unto the riches of their lib
erality 1T is worth remarking that
nowhere, save in 1 Tim. 6:17 does
| ST Paul use the word riches of ma
terial, but with that one exception,
solely of moral or spiritual wealth.
". The Example of Philippi Was
a Help to Corinth.-Vs 3, 4, 6. The
Philippians were very generous they
| gave even too much, freely without
| persuasion on the part of Paul In his
4 gospel of wealth, Mr. Carnegie says.
'No one is entitled to recommend
these doctrines who is not engaged in
| acting upon them"
+ V. The Source of Generous Giving
" s. They did, not as we hoped, OF
expected, but far beyond our expecta
tions. But first. that is, first in i'm,
portance, chiefly
What ST. Paul says is virtually
this: We expected little from people
so poor. but by Gods will they literal
ly put themselves at the service of the
Lord, in the first instance, and of us
as his administrators. They said to
us, to our amazement and joy, 1--WE
are Christs, and yours after him, to
command in this matter. "'''
VI. Completing the Circle of Vir-
tues.-V. T. AS We abound in every
thing, all the other virtues, see that We
abound in this grace also. This must
be done in order to make their char
acter perfect. Every virtue omitted
or lessened Injuries the whole charac-
ter, and diminishes the influence of
every virtue.
VII The Example of Christ.-V. 9.
"Ye know the grace" the loving favor,
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though
! he was rich, as the eternal Son of God
| in heaven. before he came to earth.
Yet for your sakes he became poor"
] This means infinitely more than abb
stinence from material good while on
earth. For riches denotes, not actual
enjoyment OF the things possessed, but
control over things needfuN. or pleas
ant to us"
VIII. The Sill for the Deed 49,
II LH6Ie De HrSC WllllnR mind, r. v.
eff the readiness is there" AZ dispo-
stion to give. a heart that is ready
for self-denials. What God wants is
a right soul. right character q >lov.
ing heart. and he does not measure r
reward it according to it's means of
expressing itself. 1t, the willing mind,
or the gift. is accepted, r. v, accept
able, according to that man hath,
etc. A delightful principle, worthy OF
him who "loveth a cheerful giver"
/ g Cor go that the acceptability of
all our offerings depends not on the
amount given but on the proportion
which it bears to our means Comp.
| Ex. 25:2; 35:5: l Chron. 29:9).-
/ Schaff This sentiment the Saviour
expressly stated and defended in the
case of the poor widow Mark 12:42
/ "A; Luke 21:1-4.
! Systematic Giving. The amount
/ given by any person varies with his