The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-12-02
Paul on the Grace
of Giving
Sunday School Lesson for Dec. S, 1909
Specially Arranged for This Paper
Specially Arranged for This Paper

words OF the Lord Jesus, how he said,
II Is more blessed to give than to re-
ve."-Acts 2o:35.
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
The Grace of Giving. It's Blessed
ness and Principles.
1. 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. ~ The Christians were, as a
rule. from the poorer classes. (2) The
opposition to them as Christians made
II difficult for them to obtain work for
their support
ii. The Privilege Of Giving.-vs. l,
2. l. We do to you to-wit, r. ", I'VE
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 a
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 Az
fiictlon.-V. 2. 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
teriai, but with that one exception,
solely OF moral or spiritual wealth.
w. The Example of Philippi Was
\ Help to Corinth.-Vs 3, 4, 6. The
were very generous. they
gave even too much, freely without
on the part of Paul. In his
gospel OF wealth, Mr.. Carnegie says:
No one is entitled to recommend
hese doctrines who is not engaged in
acting upon them"
V. The Source of Generous Giving.
". 5. They did. not as we hoped. or
expected, but far beyond our expecta.
ions. But first, that is, first in i'm.
chiefly.
What st. Paul says is virtually
his: We expected little from people
10 poor. but by Gods will they literal
y put themselves at the service of the
ord, in the first instance, and Of us
Is his administrators. They said to
is, to our amazement and Joy, I'VE
ire Christ's. and yours after him, to
Command In this natter"
VI Completing the Circle Of Vir.
ues.-V. z. AS We abound in every
hing, all the other virtues, see that We
bound in this grace also. This must
'e done in order to make their char.
cter perfect. Every virtue omitted
r lessened Injuries the whole charac.
err, and dlminishes the influence Of
very virtue.
VII. The Example of Christ.-V. 9.
Ye know the grace" the loving favor,
{ our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though
e was rich, as the eternal Son of God
4 heaven, before he came to earth.
Yet for your sakes he became poor"
This means infinitely more than alb.
Thence from material good while on
arth. For riches denotes, not actual
njoyment of the things possessed. but
ontrol over things needful or pleas
Mt to u.s."
VIII. The VIII for the Deed.-v. IL.
there be first a willing mind, r. ",
II the readiness is there" A dispo-
tion 20 give, heart that is ready
'r self-denials. What God wants is
right soul, right character, a low
lg heart, and he does not measure or ,
sward 1t according to it's means Of 7,
itself 1t, the willing mind, t,
the gift, is accepted. r. ". accept.
be-" according to that a man hath.
C. A delightful principle, worthy OF {
IN who "loveth a cheerful giver"
Cor. SD, that the acceptability OF 4
| our offerings depends not on the
Mount given but on the proportion
hich II bears to our means Comp
(. 25:2; 35:6; ! Chron. 29:9).-
han. This sentiment the Saviour
pressly stated and defended in the
sc of the poor widow Mark 1912.
(: Luke 21:1-D.
Systematic Giving. The amount
ven by any person varies with his
man with no fami-
or no children, should give more
an one with a small salary and a 3
'ge family. for in the latter case the
ucatinR and training of the childran |