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THE KING’S BUSINESS
(cf. Luke 6:38), and some o f us measure out our gifts to others in such a small measure that God can only bestow a small measure o f blessing upon us. IJe who gives but little not merely defrauds those to whom he ought to give, but defrauds him self (Prov. 21:13). v. 7. “Every man according as he pur- poseth in his heart, so let him give (Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart) j- not grudgingly, or o f neces sity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” True giving begins in the purpose o f the heart, and it is that at which God looks. But what a man purposes in hfs heart he must carry -out in action if the purpose is to be o f any real worth. When the giver thus carries out o f his heart’s purpose he must do, “not grudgingly,” i.e. to translate lit erally, “ out o f sorrow,” with grief that he is giving his money away, or “out o f neces sity,” that is because he is forced to, he must give out o f joy, glad that he has the opportunity to give and sacrifice for the sake o f others. Some think'that God loves any giver. No, He only loves the “cheer ful giver,” the glad giver, the giver who delights to see his hard earned money going out o f his own pocket into the pocket of somebody else. The word translated “cheerful” is a strong one, (hilaron, from which we get our word hilarious). Happy indeed is the one who not only gives largely but gives hilariously, bubbles over with joy at the privilege o f giving. v. 8. "And God is able to make all grace abound toward (unto) you, ( ;) that ye, always having (having always) all suffi ciency in all things (everything), may abound to (unto) every good work:” It is in connection with the subject o f giving that Paul brings in this which is one o f the' sweetest, mo^t" cheering and most inspiring promises o f the Bible. Most people quote these wonderful words without reference to their connection, and without noticing that they belong to the cheerful giver and to him alone. The promise |begins with three short words that ought to banish all our fears o f failure: “ God is able.” And
what is He able to do? To bestow “grace;” and not only to bestow “grace” but to “make grace abound;” and not only to “make grace abound,” but to make “all grace abound.’’ And to whom will God make “all grace abound?” “To you,” that is, to the bountiful, cheerful,' hilarious giver. There is nothing that will more surely narrow down the measure o f grace that we receive than our niggardly giving. Another prom ise that sounds very much like this one (Phil. 4:19), “and my God shall fill full every need o f yours, according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus,” is found in a similar connection with generous giv ing. There is nothing in either o f these promises to the mean or selfish man. And for what purpose does God make all grace abound unto us ? “ In' order that ye, hav ing always all sufficiency in everything, may abpund unto every good work.” In other words, God does not bestow abun dant grace upon us that it may terminate upon ourselves, but in order that we may abound in work for others. Notice the “alls” and “ everys” and “abounds” in this promise, and note also the “sufficiency.” It is God’s intention that we have abounding and sufficient lives at all times and in every thing. How poor most o f our lives appear when measured by the standard o f this verse. God plans for us an abounding life, but we shut ourselves down to a poor, starving life by not responding to the full ness o f God’s grace by the abundance of our giving. v- 9. “ (As it is written: (,) He hath dis persed (scattered) abroad: (,) he hath given to the poor: ( ;) his righteousness remain- eth (abideth) forever.” Paul sees in the wonderful promise he has just made an echo o f something that had been said cen turies before in the 112th Psalm the 9th verse, which he here quotes. The Bible abounds in promises to the cheerful giver, in the Old Testament as well as the New. vs. 10, 11-, “Now He that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteous-
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