The Marshall republican., 1909-12-03
Paul on the Grace
of Giving
Sunday School Lesson for Dec. 5. 1909
Specially Arranged for This Paper

LESSON TEXT Cor. s:l-l5. Memory
verse, ..
GOLDEN TEXT.-"Remember the
words OF the Lord Jesus. how he said,
II IL more blessed to give than to re-
ceive."-Acts ,o:So.
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
arst thing in giving Is a heart to give;
| the next Is an object hat needs our
gifts. This also kindles oar 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 q 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. (1) 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. l.
2. I. We do to you to-wlt, r. w., 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.
Q. 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.
fliction:-V. O.. This abundance OF Joy
abounded unto the riches of their lib
crafty. TT 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.
w. The Example of Philippi Was
q 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. OF
expected, but far beyond our expecta
tions. But first, hat is, first In i'm
portance, chiefly,
what st. Paul says is virtually
this: we expected little from peopit
so poor, but by Gods will they literal
ly put themselves at the service of the
Lord, In the first instance, and Of III
as his administrators. They said t
us, to our amazement and Joy, "W'
are Christ's, and yours after him, L
command In this NATTER"
VI. Completing the Circle of Wiz
tues.-V. Z. AS We abound in every
thing. all the other virtues. g that "
abound In this grace also. This mus
|, be done In order to make their char
acter perfect. Every virtue omitte'
or lessened Injuries the whole charac
ter, and diminishes the influence o
every virtue.
VII. The Example OF Christ-v.
"Ye know the grace" the loving favor
OF our Lord Jesus Christ. that. thong
he was rich, v the eternal Son OF Go
. In heaven. before he came 10 earti
yet for your sakes he became poor.
"This meana irHaitely more than al