read that they did not wait to be urged.. What a blessing that would be pastors all over the world, if they ddin’t have to entreat and beseech. These believers wanted to give, so they plead with Paul to take it. “Be seeching us with much entreaty in re gard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints.” They wanted their offering to go to the poor saints in Jerusalem. In the fourth place, they were not content with good resolutions, because they made a pledge. Some think pledge-making is not Scriptural; but these had made a pledge. They were not content with good resolutions, but they went on from that to perform the giving. In the eleventh verse we read: “But now complete the doing also; that as there was the readiness to will, so there may be the completion out of your ability.” You Corinthian believers, do what the Macedonian be lievers did. They were not content with what they had covenanted, pledged or promised last year or some time before, but they wanted to per form that which they had promised the Lord. Now notice, fifthly, the spirit in which we should give. That is in II Rehearsing lor their annual tour are several mem bers o< the Biola College Chorale. From left to right are Mr. Edwin Heppner, director, Janet Dollar (rom Riverside, Calif., and Roland Gangstee from Medford, Oregon. Jean O'Haver, from Van Nuys, is at the piano.
treaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints: and this, not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God. Insomuch that we ex horted Titusc, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace also. But as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnest ness of others the sincerity also of your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your Bakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might become rich. And herein I give my judgment: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will. But now complete the doing also; that as there was the readiness to will, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.” This is a wonderful portion of God’s Word. In fact, we make bold to say it is one of the most important passages in all the Bible on this matter of giving, espe cially Christian giving. Notice these forceful facts given in these eleven verses. First of all, the Macedonian believers give themselves to the Lord (II Cor. 8:5), “and this, not as we hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us through the will of God.” That’s the secret of Christian giving all through the centuries, giving oneself first and foremost and pre-eminently to the Lord. Notice secondly, they did not make poverty any excuse for not giving. So many folk make poverty an excuse for not giving. They were really poor. (II Cor. 8:2) “How that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their lib erality.” As poor as they were, that’s how liberal they were. And then, in the third place, we
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