553
B u s i n e s s
T h e
K i n g ' s
September 1928
These are searching words, but we may as well let them probe our hearts, for we are entering into two chapters which teach us that we must part with things temporal for the things eternal; with fading enjoyments of this life if we would win everlasting rewards. _These two chapters form the only section of apostolic teaching on the duty and priv ilege o f giving money to God and the poor. W e should note how much attention Paul gave to such a matter as the collec tion of money.. Gifts to the Lord’s house were not to be collected and managed on earthly principles. It isj sacred money. Christ still sits over against the treasury, and our .offerings are to be made with the same reverence that belongs to prayer and praise. In the same thoughtful and prayerful spirit the money is to be ex pended. Dr. Fraser well says : “We are to give with such an overwhelming sense of the Lord’s goodness to us as will lead us not to speak of our own gifts, but to repeat with humble joy the words which close the second part of the epistle, ‘Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” ’ The apostle wished to make known to the Corinthians the royal munificence of the Macedonian Christians (2 Cor. 8:1-2). The splendid donations of the rich drew not forth his praises, but the self-denying benevolence which is always the excep tion. Our faces would be covered with shame should the Lord reveal to the world how insignificant a proportion of the vast resources of Christians is at pres ent appropriated to the demands of Christ’s kingdom and the salvation of the world. When we consider the imploring attitude of the heathen world and the growing necessities of the work of the church and then observe that the general rule among church members is a spirit of self-indulgence that leaves little for God, is it not a wonder that some awful plague is not sent to bring us to our senses? : How few o f these Macedonian givers there are, who “ in these great trials of afflictions, out o f the abundance, o f their joy and deep poverty, abound unto the riches o f liberality!” . The secret o f it was that they had received an overwhelming vision o f what Christ had done for them and “first gave their own selves to the Lord’m iy. 5). The Gospel, when fully received, im bues the heart with the love o f God and enables one to taste the God-like enjoy ment of doing good. It teaches one to perform all ' acts of benevolence as ex pressions of gratitude for what Christ has done for him. The Christian who lives near the cross, rejoicing in acceptance through Christ, does not have to be squeezed for money for Christ’s work. He has given himself to Christ and his chief thought is to give and live for His glory. There are many who abound m utter ance and knowledge and diligence” (v. 7) who do not “ abound in the grace o f giv ing also.” At this point, according to the apostle (v. 8 ), comes one of the greatest proofs “ o f thëf’ sincerity o f love.”- The “grace o f our Lord-Jesus Christ" (v. 9) led Him to leave the riches of heaven, and for our sakes, become poor that we “ through His poverty might be rich.” Can we honestly call ourselves His followersT Christ is the great example of giving. He gave no money. H e gave Himself to bless the world. It is the spirit of this
At the close of this beautiful story two other very important things are mention ed; faith and hope. Let us read it from the Bible. “ But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest o f these is love.” Love is the greatest because it makes us like God. It was God’s love for us. that sent Jesus to die for us to save us from our sin, and it is therefore most beautiful and most peaceful. It is greatest in influence, it secures obedience. And finally love is the greatest because it gives faith and hope their very life. Let us bow our heads and thank God for His great love in giving us the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord. O ctober 21, 1928 Christian Stewardship T ex t: 2 Cor. 8-9 L esson in O utline I. Self-surrender, the First Principle of Stewardship. 8:1-9. 1. The Macedonian Christians referred to as examples. Vs. 1-6. 2. An exhortation for the Corinthians to do likewise. Vs. 7, 8 . 3. Christ, an example of complete sur render. V. 9. II. Principles o f Scriptural Stewardship. 8 :lQ-9:5 1. Giving according to ability. Vs. 10- 15. 2. Titus, an example o f a Christian stewardship. Vs. 16-24. 3. The Macedonian Christians, a stimu lus to the Corinthians. 9 :l-5. III. Cheerful Giving. Vs. 6-15. 1. The reward proportionate to the giving. Vs. 6 , 7. * 2. God’s ability to supply every need. Vs. 8-11 (cf. Phil. .4 :19). 3. The gifts of love result in: Vs. 12-15. a. Relief to the suffering. Vs. 12-13a. b. Glorifying God. Vs. 13b-15. T HE man is unworthy to be called a fol lower of Jesus Christ who does not walk the straight and narrow road of self- denying charity. It is utterly inconsistent
FRED S. SHEPARD ’S BLACKBOARD OUTLINE G i f t s — 12 a REATER G IFTS#-12:31 REATEST GIFTS—13 :13 Covet the best.—1 Cor. 12:31.
Love Is The Best O f All 1 Cor. 12-14. Memory V ersdgA'Goà is love.” 1 John 4:8b. Approach—The younger classes will Rave enough to do if they concentrate on the 13th chapter, and consider the Chris tian privilege and duty of loving others.
Show the boys that love is the manliest thing in the world, calling out all pos sible heroism. Show the girls that love is the most beauti ful thing in all the w o r l d , producing all real and perma nent loveliness. Ask
them to tell how love would improve their school life, their sports, and their homes. (Peloubet’s Notes.) Lesson Story.- —I have in my hand a little idol of metal, \yhat can it do for you? Edith, you tell .us what you can remember about the great temple of Di ana. (Review, stressing the power of Christ in lives.) I wonder if you know what is the greatest thing in the world? It is just a little word o f four letters, and wherever it is found there is joy and happiness. It is LOVE: If we love any .one it giyes us joy to do for them or give them something. There were two little girls in a home, and a baby brother, and mother was kept very busy. One of the little girls often told mother how much ¡she loved her, but she loved to romp and play so much she did not help to care for baby brother. The other little girl did not say much to mother about loving her, but all day when she was home from school, she was busy helping mother in every way she could, and amusing little brother, and when she had finished one task she would ask mother what she could do to help her. Which one do you think loved mother most? Yes, the one who helped most. If there is real love in the heart, we will enjoy doing all we can for the one we love. Our beautiful Bible story for today tells us that if we speak in the most beau tiful and wonderful language, and the words are in the mind only and not from the heart, it does not reach or warm the 'hearts o f those who hear. Words spoken by the lips, without love in the heart of the one who speaks, are like sounding brass or clanging bells. If we give all our money to feed the poor and have not love in our hearts for the poor, it will not help us any or make us happy. The next six verses show what love accomplishes: (Go through these beautiful truths, bringing them down to the child mind, showing how love will meet and solve the many difficulties and problems o f childhood. Teach the memory verse, emphasizing the love of God and what He did for a lost people. John 3:16.)
to go on talking of His atoning sacri fice and sacrificial service w h i l e we sacrifice nothing. Yet how many pro- •fessing Christians there are today who speak of Christ’s but seem to have no
poverty
thought for themselves other than to get as much as possible of this world’s riches and com forts! It is to be feared that too many who talk much of orthodoxy have forgotten that the way to show likeness to Christ is in deeds. To what extent are Christians studying day by day to forego the things which ’ tempt the' eyes, the taste,r the senses, that they may be the more like Christ and lift the burdens of others? How many are looking, not to see how much they can afford to spend upon them selves, but to see what they can lawfully deny themselves in order to lay up trea sures in heaven ?-
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