The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-07-18
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Social Service In The Early Church
By HIGHT {. MOORE
By HIGHT {. MOORE

~
! Paul bore glad witness to their
generosity. He declared that they
had contributed not only accord
ing to their power, but even be-
yOmd their power. Moreover, they
gave not under compulSion but
freely of their own accord. Hence,
giving with them amounted to a
grace. Their fellowship was no.
where finer than in their minis
tering to the saints. And the Sc
! cret Of Macedonian liberality was
found in the fact that they first
! gave themselves to God. Then
! they placed themselves under the
leadership o. the apostle. And so
! the will of God was manifest in
! their gifts as in every phase Of
! their lives. (2) The church at
! Corinth was now eXhorted to SINH
! lar liberality. Indeed Titus had
j already made the beginning in
! this direction. Let the church CO.
operate with him in completing
the grace of giving. Paul added
his own word to that of Titus. He
was aware of the fact that the
| Corinthian saints abounded in
great faith, in effective utterance,
! in knowledge of the truth, in COM
polling earnestness, and in the
crowning quality of love. Now
he urged them to abound in the
: grace of liberality in order to
make their stewardship symnetri-
cal. His plea was not matter of
apostolic command but simply a
call for an expression of the sim
cerity of their love. (3) The grace
| of the Lord Jesus not only set a
| divine example before them but
, afforded the greatest possible in
spiration. He was rich as the uni
verse itself. He became as poor
as the poorest but he made the
sacrifice in order that he might
make men infinitely rich. Such
an example can be found no.
where else.
THE GIVING THEN
DOES GOOD
/. Give. Give money of course,
but not only nor mainly. There
is something else in this world be-
sides money-something which is
more valuable and which includes
money. We should give our time,
our labor, our influence, our per-
sonal comforts if necessary, our
knowledge, and whatever inspira-
ton we can infuse into our fellow
men turning their faces upward
and squirting them onward in the
path of duty and of service. And
if we give these things, our money
will be given as a matter Of
course.
2. Give Individually. "Let each
man." The responsibility is per-
sonal. Each person has his OPP
portunity. Each can make his
contribution to the treasury of
/ the common good. Each can give
something - time and talent, as
we'll as money, food and raiment.
Give Collectively. "The church
es in Macedonia" Fellowship IN
giving may help in many ways. 1t
stirs to larger liberality. 1t pro
notes mutual respect. 1t joins
hearts and hands in a common eX-
ternal cause. Even so, it reacts
happily upon each member of d
local church and each church IN
q cooperative group at once
| deepening their spirituality and
widening their usefulness.
a. Give Scientifically. "Their
| deep poverty abounded unto the
riches of their liberality." Where
else can you find in one and the
same person at the same time
great poverty and great riches?
Happy are they whose only pow
| erty is financial. And poor are
they who are rich only in the
worlds goods. Wanted: The
stewardship that sacrifices and
serves!
5. Give Systematically. "Ac.
cording to their power-beyond
their power" 1t is not enough to
make the gift that costs the giver
nothing. We ought to do more
than make even a liberal gift on
occasion. Stewardship ought to
be systematic. Philanthropy should
be proportionate. Let modern Civ
ers give according to their power;
Let the nobleSt give even beyond
I their power. -,
Give Symmetrically GAS we
abound in everything-abound IN
this grace also" Live the abund-
ant life. Radiate every noble
quality. Scatter seeds of kindness.
Abound in the grace of giving, or
other graces are not apt to serve
or to shine. Love may be profess
ed with a fervent tongue, but the
sincerity of it remains to be
proved by the needed gift.
Give and Do Good. There are
so many calls upon our generoso,
ity. Where shall we draw the line!
, Let us be sure that it is drawn
where it should be, beyond the
circle of our immediate friend.
ships, of personal selfishness, OF
individual ambition for publicity
or any sinister motive Whatever
We should, of course, give to the
poor. The unfortunate, the widow
in her affliction, the fatherless IN
their need, the aged and INDECENT
veterans of the cross-all cry to
Is for help and to them the help
ing hand must be igven. Our
sanctuarieS must be erected
equipped, and maintained. Our
pastors should be adequately pald
and the local work of the churches