Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-12-04
Paul on the Grace
of Giving
Sunday School Lesson for Dec. s, 1909
Specially Arranged fer This Pa,er


GOLDEN TENr.-"D.mernber the
words ~ the Lord Jesus. how he said
u is more blessed to E.ve than to ve-
cciye Acts 21.r5
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
Nothehr Chruch I'm Jerusalem.-The
6rst THIS IN giving Is a heart 90 give:
the next is ar object that nec6s our
gifts. This also kindles our hearts
desire TO give. The object which
called out the many wise precepts
which Paul wrote 90 the Corinthians.
was the need of the poor disciples az
jerusalem. This object as a motive
was greatly strengthened by the fact
that by these gifts the members Of
the church az Jerusalem would be
bound closer 20 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 conters. and while
few were of the wealthy class. an had
much more money in circulation than
the Christian Jews at Jerusalem
why the Jewish Christians Needed
Help. Cd The Christians were. as
rule. from the poorer classes. (2) The
opposition Co them as Christians made
81 difficult for them 90 obtain work for
their support
II. The Privilege OF Givinr-Vs. !
2. l. We do 10 you to-wit. r. V. eve
make known 90 YOU" Cause Won 90
know" the grace OF God. the favor
the privilege. the expression of loving
kindness. the good viii. beautiful. de
Hghtul. and producing in them the
graces OF the Christian lire. bestowed
on the churches OF Macedonia. espe-
ciolly the church at Phnippi. who re
peatedly sent donations to Paul 10
help him I'm his work.
.. The abundance Of their ioy In
the next chapter we have most in
terestinE expression. God loveth
cheerful giver." he loves such one
because he SIS man after Gods own
heart, I'm perfect sympathy and har-
mony with him
III. Giving Ont OF Poverty and AZ.
hicton-V. @ This abundance OF 10Y
abounded unto the riches OF their Hb-
erality. 1T Is worth remarling that
nowhere. save I'm Tim. SLY. does
St Paul use the word riches OF ma
terial. but with that one exception.
solely Of moral or spiritual wealth
". The Example OF Phuippi Was
a Help 10 Corinth VS. 9. l. 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. Carnerie saws.
mo one IS entitled 20 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. hut far beyond our expecta.
tons. 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 viii 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, 10 our amazement and JOY. we
are Christ's. and yours after him, 10
command IN this matter"
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 10 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. g.
"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 US"
VIII. The VIII for the Deed.-V. u.
II there be first willing mind, r. v,
'if the readiness is there" A dispo-
siuon 10 give a heart that is ready
for self-denials What God wants is
right soul a right character, a low
ing heart. and he does not measure or
reward It according to its means Of
expressing itself II, the willing mind.
or the gift. is accepted. ?. v. accept
able" according to that a man hath.
etc. A delightful principle, worthy OF
him who ''loyeth a cheerful giver"
q Cor. 9:O. that the acceptabiIity OF
ali our offerings depends not on the
amount given but on the proportion
which IL bears 70 our means (comp.
Ex. 25:2; S5:5; I Chron. 29:9).-
Schaff. This sentiment the Saviour
expressly stated and defended in the
case of the poor widow mark 1912
"a; Luke 21:14).
Systematic Giving. The amount
given by any person varies with his
circumstances. A man with no fami-
iy. or no children, should give more
than one with q small salary and
large family. for 4. the latter case the
educating and training OF the children