The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1916-08-10
LESSON FOR AUGUST 13
THE GRACE OF LIVING.
1ssoN rEXT-u Cor. Q.


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 2O35.
Paul's letters TO the church In
Corinth are n divine commentary upon
church government. A stricter ad-
herence TO the principles enunclated
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 1t concerns one
of the fundamental principles when
underly the progress of mankind as
well as the kingdom of God.
/. Cheerful Giving wv. 10. 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, GER
tain Gentiles could not see the necessl-
ty of the Jewish ceremonial, and 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
tlans. The pilgrims were often very
poor, and fatigue must have tostered
| diseases. Here then was n place
where n 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 wv. ! ana
.. Am. R.). Most delicately does he
compliment them upon their work, Tor,
said he, 81 glory in your behalf"
He desired their collections to be a
matter of bounty, and not of cOvetous'
ness or extortion. Paul's principle oil
giving is that it shall be matter oil
free and benefcent gifts, not a matter
of covetous greed; not quid pro quo.
He saws that they who SOW sparingly
shall reap sparingly
In the spirit of pouring out 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 the heart ". .
but what n man purposes in his near
he must carry out in his actions, nOI
"of necessity'-that is, because he Is
forced TO. God loves the cheerful, slaC
glver who delights to see his hard
earned money going out of his owl
pocket into that of his needful brother
II. The Results Of Giving wv. SID
The law of reaping according to the
seed we SOW and of reaping in proper
tion 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 anC
Inspiring promises of the Bible is
found In verse s of this section,
"God Is able" He is able to make al
grace abound, and he does this "tC
the bountiful giver." Nothing more
surely limits the measure of grace thaI
we receive than our penurious, mig
gardly giving (Phll. 4:19 and contexD
This giving of grace is ''in order that
We always having all sufliciency in al
things may abound unto every gooc
work" Gods abundant grace is be
slowed upon us that we may work fol
others, and live abounding, sufiicienl
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 Goo
provides, he will multiply the seed fol
sowing and increase the fruits of oul
righteousness. If we do not SOW, h,
will cease to supply.
This liberality will work through US
TO others and thanksgiving to God OF
the part of those who receive ". IL, Il
W. Such giving abounds TO his honol
and glory through the many thanks
, glvings which IL will occasion (Heb
13:15). The more we give, the more
God will increase our power to give
and in this way we will be enriched II
everything unto all llberality Prov
II :24-25). The church in Jerusalem
when the saints of Corinth had giveI
proof by the minlstration to their need
would glorify God for the obedience o.
the saints in Corinth and their confes
sion of the gospel of Christ, and alsC
for the liberality of their contribution
unto them ". IL, Il. W. They woult
repay their generosity with prayer "
IA, X. W and they would long aftel
them by reason of the grace of Goo
which was In them.
Paul's words about our giving witt
thanksgiving to God for his unspeak
able gift-(See Ch. 500 the unspeak
able gift of God, Jesus Christ (Johr
3:16; Rom. S:32)-is an exhortatioI
to us. Nothing should so move us tt
give to others as the thought of wha
! God has given of his very best ant
dearest for us.
The Sunday school, as the training
school of the church, ought to give in
struction not alone in salvation trutl