The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-08-11
LESSON FOR AUGUST 10
THE A OF LIVING.
TEXT-II Cor. ..

ToH an example that 80 lAborlrB ys ought
10 help tbs weak. and 70 remember The
words Of the Lord Jesus. that he himself
eaid, II 10 more blessed to give than to
Paul's letters to the church 10
Cortnth are a divine commentary upon
church government. A stricter I'D.
herence to the principles enunciated
Ind . clearer Interpretation Of those
principles to the church Of Jesus Christ
would save Ms from many errors and
6eartaches. In this rich and popuious
patton the lesson for consideration to-.
day Is most vital, for 1t concerns one
be the fundamental principles which.
hnderiy the progress Of. mankind as
well as the kingdom Of God.
4. Cheerful Giving wv. I'D. One OF
ehe dangers assalling the early Chris.
han church was that Of division be-
tween the Jewish and Gentle believ.
ers. One party suggested that the
Gentfles ought to have a closer union
bvith the Jews; on the other hand. Ger.
balm Gentiles could not see the necessi.
III Of the Jewish ceremonial. and in
This Paul agreed with them. and there
kore they refused to assume any un.
!hecessary burden. The great feasts
|bt Jerusalem were crowded with Pill.
sgrims, both Jews and Jewish Chris.
ss1ans. The pilgrims were often very
poor. and fatigue must have tostered
diseases. Here then was o 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 CORN.
thians. He recognizes their forward.
pess Of mind and their zeal tvv. / and
B. 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 q
matter Of bounty, and not Of covetous.
ness or extordon. Paul's principle Of
giving 10 that It shall be a matter OF
eree and b~enehcent gifts, not a matter
pf ~covetous greed; not a guild pro quo.
He says that they who SOW sparingly
ahall reap sparingly.
%. The Results OF Giving (vv. e.15),
The law Of reaptng according to the
seed we SOW and Of reaping IN proper.
sion to the quality and quantity Of the
seed sown 10 also to be supplemented
by. the law Of the necessity Of sys.
tematc giving (see 1 Cor. 1922 One
of the sweetest and most cheerful and
inspiring promises Of The Bible Is
found In verse s Of this section,
sGod 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 thai
we receive than our penurious, mig
gardly giving (Phil. 4:19 and c~ontext),
This giving Of grace is I'm order that
ye always having all suficIency In ali
things may abound unto every good
work" Gods abundant grace Is be
slowed upon US that We may work 70,
others, and live Astounding, sufficient
lives In everything. How poor indeed
bur lives must appear when measured
by the standard Of this verse. Literal,
" this is hilarious giving" God loves
the f%ull.souled, hilarious giver who
gives time and money. Such giving Is
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 gu,
righteousness. II we do not SOW, he
win cease to supply.
This liberality will work through us
10 others and thanksgiving to God Cd
the part Of those who receive ". II, R,
5N.). Such giving abounds to his homo,
and glory through the many thanks.
giyings which It will occasion (Heb.
Sa3 :15). The more We give, the more
God will increase our power to give,
and in this way VT will be enriched In
everything unto all liberality prov.
II :2425). The church In Jerusalem,
when the saints Of Corinth had given
proof by the mInistradon to their need,
would glorify God for the obedience of
the saints In Corinth and their confes.
eion Of the gospel Of Christ, and also
Tor the liberal!ty Of their contribution
unto them ". Is. R. W. They would
repay their generosity with prayer u.
~, 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-tsee Oh. SOY the unspeak.
able gift Of God. Jesus Christ John
B:16; Rom. s:32)-is an e1hortadon
10 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
Bchool Of the church, ought TO give In.
struction not alone In salvation truth
and lie teaching, but also in systematic
giving. Train the children early to
Eiye to the church a portion of their
substance, and they will learn to love
Hand support 1t In the years to come.
Persistent practice Is the secret Of
mastery here a. IN everything else.
We say: "when a rich man dies he
leaves all his wealth behind him"
True, but it Is also true that we