The Montgomery tribune., 1909-12-03
Paul on the Grace
Of Giving
Sunday School Lesson for Dec. S, 1909
Specially Arranged for This Paper

suggestion and Practical Thought
The Grace of Giving. It's Blessed
ness and Principles.
I. The Immediate Object. The Col.
lection for the Poor Disciples Of the
Mothehr Chruch in Jerusalem.-The
first thing in giving is heart to give;
the next is an object that needs our
gifts. This also kindles our hearts
desire to give. The object which
called out the many wise precepts
which Paul wrote to the Corinthians,
was the need Of the poor disciples at
Jerusalem. This object as a 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
Help. (D The Christians were, as a
rule, from the poorer classes. (2) The
opposition to them as Christians made
1t difficult for them to obtain work for
their support.
II. The Privilege OF Glving.-vs. /,
2. I. We do to you to-wit, R. ", 1--WE
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 most In
teresting expression, "God loveth a
cheerful giver," he loves such a one
because he is man after Gods own
heart, in perfect sympathy and har.
mony with him.
III. Giving Out Of Poverty and AT.
fiction.-V. 2. This abundance of JOY
abounded unto the riches of their lib
erality. 1T is worth remarking that
nowhere, save In 1 Tim. GIT, 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
Help to Corinth.-Vs 8, 4, 6. The
Philippians were very generous, they
gave even too much, freely without
persuasion on the part of Paul. In his
gospel Of wealth, Mr.. Carnegie says:
mo 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, or
expected, but far beyond our expecta-
4 tions. But first, that is, first in i'm
portance, chiefly.
L 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 Christ's, and yours after him, to
command in this Natter"
vi. Completing the Circle of vir-
tues.-V. Z. 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 alb
stinence from material good while on
earth. For riches denotes, not actual
enjoyment of the things possessed, but
control over things needful or pleas
ant to u.s."
VIII. The VIII for the Deed.-V. 70.
| II there be first willing mind, r. w.,
'if the readiness is there" A dispo-
sition to give, heart that is ready
| for self-denials. What God wants Is
right soul, right character, low
ing heart, and he does not measure or
reward 1t according to its means of
expressing itself 1t, the willing mind,
or the gift, is accepted, r. w., accept
| able" according to that a man hath,
etc. A delightful principle, worthy Of
him who 'loveth cheerful giver"
| q Cor. 9:7), that the acceptability Of
all our offerings depends not op the
amount given but on the proportion
which 1t bears to our means (comp.
Elk. 25:2; 1855; 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-D.
Systematic. Giving. The amount
| given by any person varies with his
circumstances A man with no fami-
ly, or no children, should give more