The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-08-10
LESSON FOR AUGUST 10
THE GRACE or LIVING.
,oN TExT-u Cor. D.


you an example. that 30 iaboring ye ought
TO help the weak. and to remember the
words OF the Lord Jesus. that he himself
said, u IL more blessed to give than 20
receive.-Acts D:8.
Paul's letters 10 the church In
Corinth are divine commentary upon
church government. A stricter adj
, herence TO the principles enunciated
J and n clearer Interpretation OF those
principles TO the church Of Jesus Christ
would save us from many errors and
heartaches. In this rich and populous
nation the lesson for consideration to-
day Is most vital. for II concerns one
OF the fundamental principles which
underly the progress OF mankind as
well as the kingdom Of God.
I. Cheerful Giving (vv. III. One Of
the dangers assailing 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 n closer union
with the Jews on the other hand. GER
tain Gentiles could not see the necessi-
~ Of the Jewish ceremonial, and In
this Paul agreed with them. and there
fore they refused TO assume any I'M
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 fostered
diseases. Here then was q place
where q 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 CORN
thians. He recognizes their forward
ness Of mind and their zeal tvv and
2. Am. r.. Most delicately does he
compliment them upon their work. for,
said he. II glory In your behalf"
He desired their collections to be a
matter Of bounty. and not Of covetous-
ness or extortion. Paul's principle OF
giving 10 that Il shall be q natter OF
free and benencent gifts. not U natter
Of covetous greed not q Quid pro quo.
He says that they who SOW sparingiy
shall reap spsringiy.
%. The RssuIts ss diving wv. 8-l5l.
The law Of reaping according to the
seed we SOW and Of reaping In proper
ton TO the quality and quantity Of the
seed sown II also to be supplemented
by the law Of the necessity Of Us-
tematic giving (See I Cor. 1922. One
of the sweetest and most cheerful and
inspiring promises of the Bible y
found In verse OF this section,
"0od IL able" He Is able to make al
grace abound. and he does this 10
the bountiful giver." Nothing mere
surely limits the measure Of grace that
We receive than our penurious, mig
gardly giving (Phii. 4:1o and coutext).
This giving Of grace Is 'fn order that
70 always having all sufliciency In I'll
things may abound unto evcry good
work" Gods abundant grace II b.
slowed upon us that we may work tor
others, and live abounding. suficisnt
lives In everything. How poor indeed
our lives must appear when measured
by the standard Of this verse. lateral
ly this is hilarious giving" God loves
the full-souled. hilarious giver who
gives time and money. Such giving 10
like unto Gods giving. who gave his
only begotten son. II we SOW rs God
provides, he will multiply the seed for
sowing and increase the fruits Of our
righteousness. II we do not SOW. be
will cease to supply.
This liberality win work through us
TO others and thanksgiving TO God on
the part Of those who receive ". IL. II.
w. Such giving abounds to his honor
and glory through the many thanks
givlngs which II win occasion (Heb.
13:15). The more we give. the more
od will increase our power to give.
Ind In this way we will be enriched In
everything unto all liberality prov.
IL :242o). The church In Jerusalem.
when the saints Of Corinth had given
proof by the ministration 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 ". Is. II. w. They would
repay their generosity with prayer ".
II. r.. 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 to God for his unspeak-
able gift-(See On. 500 the unspeak-
able gift Of God. Jesus Christ John
B:16; Rom. s:32)-is an exhortation
TO as. Nothing should 30 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
and life teaching. but also In systematic
giving. Train the children early to
give TO the church q portion OF their
substance. and they win learn to love
Il and support II In the years to come.
Persistsnt practice 10 the secret Of
mastery here a. In everything else.
We say: when . rich man dies he
leaves all his wealth behind him."
True. but Il II also true that We