Middletown transcript., 1916-08-12
LESSON FOR AUGUST 13
THE GRACE OF LIVING.
.rssnN TExT-II Cor. 3.

you an example, that so laboring ye ought
to help the weak. and to remember tne
words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself
said, II is more blessed to give than to
receive. Acts 20:35.
Paul's letters to the church In
Corlnth are a divine commentary upon
church government. A stricter ad-
herence to the principles enunciated
and a clearer interpretation of those
principles to the church Of Jesus Christ
would save us from many errors anu
heartaches. In this rich and pOpuious
nation the lesson for consideration to-
day is most vital, for 1t concerns one
of the fundamental principles which
underly the progress of mankind as
well as the kingdom of God.
I. Cheerful Giving tvv. Id. One of
the dangers assailfng the enriy Chris
tian church was that of division be-
tween the Jewish and Gentle believ-
ers. One party suggested that the
GentileS ought to have closer union
with the Jews; on the other hand. GER
tain GentileS could not see the neceSSl-
ty Of the Jewish ceremonial. ana III
this Paul agreed with them, and there
fore they refused to assume any un-
necessary burden. The great feaSts
at Jerusalem were crowded with pill
grims, both Jews and Jewish Chris
tians. The pilgrims were often very
poor, and fatigue must have f0Stered
diseases. Here then was Il place
where a work of ministry to the needy
might be done with the money which
had been Systematically gathered
through the weekly contributions OF
Christian believers. Note how skill
fully Paul appealed to these Corln-
thians. lie recognizes their forward
ness of mind and their zeal (vv. l ana
2, Am. R.). Most delicately does he
compliment them upon their work, for,
said he, 81 glory in your behalf"
He desired their collections to be
matter Of bounty, and not Of cOvetous'
ness or extOrtiOn. PauIs principle OF
giving is that 1t shall be matter OF
free and bencficent gifts, not matter
of covetous greed; not quid pro quo.
He says that they who SOW spnringly
shall reap sparingly.
In the spirit Of pouring out bless
ing upon others. those who SOW b0unu-
fully shall reap also bOuntifully. Civ
ing is sowing. Small, indeed, will be
the harvest of many prOfeSsed Chris
tians when they reap according as
they have given. True giving begins
with the purpose of the heart ". .,
but what man purposes in his heart
he must carry out in his actions, not
"of necessity"-that is, because he is
forced to. God loves the cheerful. glad
giver who delights to see his hard
earned money going out Of his own
pocket into that of his needfui brother.
II. The Results of Giving (vv. S-15).
The law of relping according to the
seed we SOW and of reaping In prOpor-
ton to the quality and quantity of the
seed SOwn is also to be supplemented
by the law of the necessity of sys-
tematic giving (See Cor. 1G:2). One
of the sweetest and most cheerful and
inspiring promises Of the Bible is
found in verse s of this section,
"GOd is able" He is able to make all
grace abound, and he does this ito
the bounrifuI giver." Nothing more
surely limits the measure of grace that
we receive than our penuriOuS. mig
gardly giving (Phil. 4:19 and cOnteXt).
This giving of grace is ''in order that
We always having all sufficiency in all
things may abound unto every good
work" Gods abundant grace is be-
slowed upon us that we may work for
others, and live abOunding. sufficient
lives in everything. How poor indeed
our lives must appear when measured
by the standard of this verse. Literal
ly this is hilarious giving" God loves
the fuIl-sOuled. hilarious giver who
gives time and money. Such giving is
like unto Gods giving. who gave his
only begOtten son. If we sow as God
provides, he will multiply the seed for
sowing and increase the fruits of our
righteousness. Ii we do not SOW, he
will cease to supply.
This Eberality will work through US
to others and thanksgiving to God on
the part of those who receive ". IL. Il.
W. Such giving alIOundS to his honor
and glory through the muny thanks
givings which 1t will occasion (IIeb.
10 :l5). The more we give, the more
God will increase our power to give.
and in this way we will be enriched In
everything unto all liheraIity (PrOv.
IL :2425). The church In Jerusalem.
when the saints of ttOrinth had given
proof by the miniStratiOn to their need,
would gl0rify God for the obedience OF
the saints in COrinth and their cOnfes-
sion of the gospel of Christ and also
for the liberaIity of their contribution
unto them (v. IL. Il. W. They would
repay their generosity with prayer ".
IA. Il. W and they would long after |
them by reason of the grace of God |
which was In them.
PauI's words about our giving with |
thanksgiving to God for his unSppak-
able gift-(See Ch. S:9) the unspe;ik-
lble gift of God. Jesus Christ (JOhu
3:lG; Rom. S:32)-is I'm exhortatiOn
to us. Nothing should so move US to
give to others as the thought of what
God has given of his very best and
dearest for Us.
The Sunday school, as the training
school of the church. ought to give in
structiOn not alone In salvation truth
nnd life tenchimg. hut also in systematic
giving. Train the children early to
give to the church II portion of their
substance nnh they will lr.urn 10 love