The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-08-12
LESSON FOR AUGUST r3
THE A OF LIVING.

@AlhC@ III - "
GOLDEN TEXT-In all things ! gavo
you &C example, that so laboring ye ought
TO help the weak, and TO remember tho
words of the LORD jesus, That he himself
said. IL is more blessed 20 give than 10
receive.-Aots 20:3s.
Paul's letters 10 the church In
Corinth are a divine commentary upon
church government. A stricter I'D
herence to the principles enunciated
and a clearer Interpretation Of those
principles to the church of Jesus Christ
would save us from many errors and
heartaches. IN his rich and popuiou5
nation the lesson for consideration to-
day is most vital, for it concerns one
Of the fundamental principles which
unTlerly the progress of mankind as
well as the Kingdom of God.
1. Cheerful Giving wv. 1-T). one Of
the dangers assniling the early Chris
tian church was that Of division be-
tween the Jewish and Gentle believ-
ers. one party suggested that the
Gentiles ought TO have Il closer union
with the Jews on the other hand. GER
tain Gentiles could not see the neces~i-
ty of the Jewish ceremonial, and in
this Paul agreed with them, and there
fore they refused to assume any IN
necessary burden. The great feasts
ut Jerusalem we're crowded with pill
srims, both Jews and Jewish Chris
tiuns. The pilgrims were often very
poor, and fatigue must have fostere1
diseases. Here then was a place
where Il work Of ministry to the needy
might be done with the money which
had been systematically gathered
through the weekly contributions or
Christian believers. Note how skill
fully Paul appealed TO these CORN
thians. He recognizes their forward
ness of mind and their zeal wv. l and
., Am. r.. Most delicately does he
compliment them upon their work, for,
said he, Il glory in your behalf"
He desired their collections to be n
matter of bounty, and not of cOvetOus-
ness or extortion. Paul's principle OF
giving is that IT shall be a matter Of
free and benefcent gifts, not a matter
of covetous greed not u quid pro quo.
He says that they who sow sparingly
shall reap sparIngiy.
In the spirit of pouring out a bless
ing upon Others, those who sow bounti-
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 h heart ". ~
but what a man purposes in his heart
- go. ..rw.- ut sN hfs npffnnG 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 needful brother.
II. The Results Of Giving wv, S-15).
The law of Teaping according to the
seed we sow and of reaping in proper
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. 10 :2). One
of the sweetest and most cheerful and
inspiring promises of the Bible is'
found in verse 8 of this s~ectiOnr
"God is able" He Is able TO make air
grace abound, and he Toe his ito.
the bountiful giver." Nothing moro
surely limits the measure of grace that
we receive than our penuriOus. mig
gardly giving tPhil. 4:19 and context).
This giving of grace Is "in order that
We always having all sufiiciency in alt
things may abound unto every good
work" Gods abundant grace is be-
slowed upon us nat we may work for
others, and live Astounding, 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 full-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 win multiply the seed for
sowing and increase the fruits of our
} righteousness. II we do not SOW, he
will cease 10 supply.
This llberality win work through US
to others and thanksgiving to God on
the part of those who receive ". IL, Il.
: W. Such giving abOunds to his honor
: and glory through the many thanks
givings which il win occasion Heb.
10 :15). The more we give, the more
: God will increase our power to give,
4 and in this way we win be enriched in
t everything unto all liberallty prov.
IL :2425). The church In Jerusalem,
when the saints of Corlnth had given
proof by the ministratlon to their need,
would glorify God for the obedience OF
the saints in Corinth and their confess
sion of the gospel of Christ, and also
for the liberality of their contribution
' unto them ". IL, r. W. They would
! repay their generosity with prayer ".
II, Il. W and they would long after
them by reason OF the grace of GOD
which was in them.
Paul's words about our giving with
! thanksgiving 10 God for his unspeak-
able gift-(See Oh. 800 the unspeak-
able gift Of God, Jesus Christ (John
8:16; Rom. S:32)-is an exhOrtatiOR
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