Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-10
ECbristian Gnoea6or;
! Dour ;
3 Conducted by :;
!. HARVEY S. IRWIN. !
!. I
TOPIC:
The Christian Virtues.
H-Generosity.
2 Cor, o:o-I5.

~HIS is the age Of great wealth.
III Multimillionaires are multiply
ing in number Hundreds OF
millions are expended in single
enterprises. Munificent gifts are made
1t is common to speak of the almighty
dollar. Such a designation is an insult
to the Deity. The dollar is mighty,
but not almighty. Fabulous money In
vestments are daily recorded in the
worlds business of this generation.
vet some nineteen hundred years ago
the greatest money transaction of all
the ages was made by a certain widow
when she cast her all into COD S
treasury Her name is not even men
toned yet her deed attracted the at
tention and the commentator of God
who on that day in human form sat
over against the treasury. Her money
transaction of two mites has 1nnu-
enced the hearts of millions OF men
and women, and untold millions OF dol
lars have followed the mites into the
same repository.
Thousands upon thousands OF NOBLE
men and women have generously re-
sponded to the varied calls OF human
need, and the children have done
noble part in the aggregate OF their
offerings for benevolent purposes.
When we think of all the hospitals
in every cline for the care, comfort
and relief Of suffering humanity, that
have been erected; of all the mission
stations in every land that have been
equipped for service in the advance
ment Of Christian civilization; OF all
the churches that have been reared
throughout the world for the glory OF
God; of all the institutions of learning
that have been built in every country
for the spread Of Neutrality-suspicious. it
not give glorious attestation to the
~.,rsN Rfc MI
men? Yet in all this boundless ex-
penditure of money and service only
the frontier of the worlds necessities
has been reached.
The call for generous gifts and gen.
erous deeds rings clearer as the ages
advance and material wealth increases.
The worlds great need is not money.
except as means to reach the higher
wealth of the mind and the soul. 1t
is to this end that the God-given spirit
of generosity in mankind is conse
Grated. And as the yesterdays pass
away it will have it's full fruition in
the coming tOmorrows
Shall we not seek place among the
number of the generous-spiri ones
who give freely and lovingly, whether
a mite or a million does not matter.
il it is in the right measure of our
abilities.
Giving does not impoverish ''Honor
the Lord with thy substance. and with
the first fruits of all thine increase; so
shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and
thy presses shall burst out with new
wine
The giving is to be joyful. For God
tell us that the original word here rem
dered cheerful literally means hilarious.
It is great joy to the generous heart
to give. 1T is more blessed to give than
to receive. 1t is better to the purse,
better to the heart. better to the life of
the giver, than the gift can possibly be
rocoivino
fully. joyOusly we ought to give.
Give! the morning that flows out of heaven:
Give: as the waves when their channel is riven; |
Lavishly. utterly joyfulls give. are gwen
Not the waste drops OF thy cup overlooking,
Not the faint sparks Of thy hearth
Give as be gave thee, who gave thee to live. /
Generosity is by no means confined to |
gifts of gold or other forms of material |
wealth. Myrrh and frankincense were
with the gold that the wise men laid at |
the feet Of Bethlehem's babe
We do not know which gave the gift |
of gold or which the gift of frankincense
or myrrh. Probably each of the wise
men gave part of each of the three gifts.
So should it be in our lives. Our gifts |
to Christ should include not only gold. |
but the incense of prayer and love, and |
the myrrh of sympathy and conservation. |
According to the old medieval inter-
in recognition of Christs .'kingship, |
deity and DEATH and according to |
Grotius. the gifts signified works of |
mercy. prayer and purity In either
Interpretation the central thought is the
same-recognition of Christ's divinity
and his claims upon our worship and |
gifts. Whatever We give. it is to be the
hearts gift: in that is it's richness and |
value appraised.
More precious often than silver or gold
is the gift of kindly word to some lone
ly, despairing heart suffering from the
harsh and cruel taunts of the unfeeling
world SWeeter than any music is the
gift of tender smile on loving face to
one forsaken or misjudged. More cheer
ing than the rays of the sun is a gift OF
a loving glance to one living in an atmos-
phere of frowns. More helpful than kind
ly word or gentle smile or loving glance