Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1909-04-23

III f#43#& 0lrJl6SL JQlnS IN
"A this city is accu-
INFLATED wealth
not a penny of which has been given
10 God or humanity. Jesus said again:
1t Is more blessed to give than to re-
ceive." And the word blessed means
happy without the hap. In giving there
comes a joy which is not dependent
upon chance. 1t Is a law as regular
in its workings as gravitation that
giving makes the giver happy and get
ting money with a view to doing good
by giving it fills with joy. Paul says
to the toiler in Ephesians 4:28: Let
him labor working with his hands
that which is good, that he may have
whereof to give to- him that hath
need" The daily toiler goes to his
work with a song in his heart if he
has the high and holy motive of work
ing that he may help others in need
of body. mind of soul. What are you
doing this morning." said a neighbor
to a sturdy blacksmith. Preaching
the gospel to the regions beyond"
answered the Christian man as he
swung his hammer and remembered
the subscription he had made to for
eign missions the day before. Toll
at the anvil had been glorified into
joyful service for the King of kings.
Riches as Burdens.
The Hebrew word for riches means
burden" and some one has said:
There is often a burden of care in
getting them, burden of anxiety in
keeping them, burden of temptation
in using them, burden of guilt in
abusing them, burden of sorrow in
losing them. a burden of account at
last to be given up for possessing
without improving them" But in
giving them there is a burden of joy
which like the wings of the bird lifts
the soul upward toward God in the
spirit of self-sacrificing love- The
Dead sea takes in the Jordan and
holds it. Hence the death and repul-
SION. The Sea of Galilee takes in the
Jordan and gives it off. Hence its life
and beauty. Getting and holding
make a Dead sea with no life in it's
waters, while getting and giving make
Sea of Galilee full of life and beauty.
One-tenth is the law: "as God hath
prospered" Is the gospel, which, as
always, goes beyond the law For
Israel to withhold the 1.-THE was to rob
God. (Mal. 3:8) The law said: "All
the 1.-THE is the Lords" (Lev. 27:30)
The 1.-THE was, therefore, debt to
God which the Israelite must pay be-
fore he could give anything. The
Christian, to be sure, will not insist
that he ought to do less than the
Jew. One-tenth of his income ought,
therefore, to be laid by in store for
the Lords work, while he gladly gives
freewill offerings prompted by con-
siderations of Judgment, mercy and
faith"
Real Giving.
These freewill offerings should be
inspired by the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who, though he was
rich, yet for your sakes became poor,
that ye through his poverty might be
rich e Cor. 800. Try to compute
his poverty" and our riches through
him. Then ask how much ought We to
give? If you would build symmetrical
Christian character do not let the
grace of giving languish.
Linked with Christ, money brings
large returns. The widows two-fifths
Of a cent given in love and faith have
increased to millions of dollars. The
alabaster box, broken and poured upon
tho head of Christ. has filed the ages
with it's perfume, and, as result, mil
lions of alabaster boxes have been
poured upon his head. A Christian
man, once prosperous In business, but
now poor, says: THE only money |
really saved was what / gave" An
other man with an income of $500
year lived on $500 a year and gave
1000 to religious and benevolent OBJ
jects Another, whose annual income
was $4,000, lived on $1,000 and gave
the rest thus reversing the law of
tithing by keeping one-tenth and Civ
ing nine-tenths, which was his gospel
privilege.
Wesley's Method.
When John Wesley in preaching his
sermon on giving to a large audience
announced his first division: Make
all you can," an enthusiastic brother
in front of him exclaimed Amen.
That's good and when he announced
his second division: Save all you
can," the enthusiastic brother said
even more emphatically, Amen.
That's better" But when he an
nounced his third division: Give all
you can," the brother lost his enthu-
siasm and growled There, now.
You've spoilt your sermon. Too bad"
And yet the divisions of Wesley's SER
ron are a good motto for every Chris
tian steward: Make all you can, save
all you can, give all you can"