Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-08-11
LESSON FOR AUGUST 13
THE GRACE OF LIVING.
LESSON TExT-u Cor. g.

GOlsDEsN 1EAI-ln all SdNS
you an example, that so laboring ye ought
to help the weak. and to remember the
words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself
said, it is more blessed to give than to
receive. Acts 20:35.
Paul's letters to the church in
COrinth are a divine commentary upon
church government. A stricter ad-
herence to the principles enunciated
and 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 it concerns one
of the fundamental principles which
underly the progress of mankind as
well as the kingdom of God.
I. Cheerful Giving wv. 1-O. 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 a closer union
with the Jews on the other hand, cer-
tain Gentiles could not see the necessi-
ty of the Jewish ceremonial, ana IN
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 fostered
diseases. Here then was place
where 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 Corin-
thians. He recognizes their forward
ness of mind and their zeal wv. 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
matter of bounty, and not of covetous-
ness or extortion. Pauls principle OF
giving is that it shall be a matter of
free and beneficent gifts, not a matter
of covetOus greed not Quid pro quo.
1 He says that they who SOW sparingly
shall reap sparingly.
In the spirit of pouring out bless
! ing upon others, those who sow bounu-
| 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 ". %,
| 49, ,rhot n ,,oap ,,urpoSoS 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 needful brother.
II. The Results of Giving (vv. S-15).
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 is also to be supplemented
by the law of the necessity of sys-
tematic giving (See Cor. 1922 One
of the sweetest and most cheerful and
inspiring promises of the Bible is
found in verse of this section,
"GOd is able" He is able to make all
grace abound. and he does this ''tO
the bountiful giver." Nothing more
surely limits the measure of grace that
we receive than our penurious, mig
gardly giving (Phil. A 10 and context)
This giving of grace is 'in order that
We always having all sufficiency in al
things may abound unto every good
work" Gods abundant grace is be
slowed upon US that we may work fol
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 full-souled, hilarious giver who
gives time and money. Such giving i:
like unto Gods giving, who gave his
only begotten son. If we SOW as Coo
provides, he will multiply the seed fol
sowing and increase the fruits of oul
righteousness. If we do not SOW, ht
will cease to supply.
This liberality will work through u
to others and thanksgiving to God Oh
the part of those who receive ". II, r
W. Such giving abounds to his homo
and glory through the many thanks
, givings which it will occasion (Heh
10 :15). The more we give, the NOR
God will increase our power to give
and in this way we will be enriched il
everything unto all liberality iProy
IL :24-25). The church in Jerusalem
, when the saints of Corinth had give
proof by the ministration to their need
, would glorify God for the obedience O
the saints in Corinth and their confeS
, sion of the gospel of Christ, and ais
for the liberality of their contributio
unto them ". 13. r. w. They woul
repay their generosity with prayer (N
IA, r. W and they would long afte
them by reason of the grace of Go
which was in them.
PauPs words about our giving wit
thanksgiving to God for his unspeaE
able gift-(See Oh. :9) the unspeal
able gift of Cod Jesus Christ (Joh
3:16; Rom. S:32)-is an exhOrtatio
to us. Nothing should so move us t
give to others as the thought of wha
God has given Of his very best an
dearest for US.
The Sunday school, as the trainin
school of the church, ought to give IL
struction not alone in salvation trut
and life teaching, but also in systemati
| giving. Train the children early I
\ give to the church portion Of the
\ substance, and they will learn to lOy
H 1t and support 1t in the years to com
H Persistent practice is the secret {
n mastery here as in everything els
Il We say: when a rich man dies /
II leaves all his wealth behind him."
A True, but it is also true that "
i change into the currency of the coul
m try to which we are going the gif
which we have given here.
The widows mite will become q hal
= of gold, and the handful of grain Il
It seed of the Tree of Life.
e To give love, friendship, money, az
D service to lead others to heaven al
:. to aid in every good cause is alwa.
| mora bIoccoI fbo, tO pocoiVro