100 Years Ago

Reprint from the July, 1919, Word and Work

 

Grace is defined as the unmerited favor of God, or as the favor of God bestowed upon men of demerit. Grace means favor. When this grace appears unto men and there is response, the impression made by “the word of his grace” is the grace of God in the heart. “The love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit which was given unto us.” “We love because he first loved us.” This love filling our hearts to overflowing, extending to our neighbor thus fulfilling the second great commandment, this is the grace of God in our hearts. “God so loved the world that he gave.” “Christ gave Himself for us.” For your sakes He became poor that ye through His poverty might become rich.” If therefore that which fills our hearts is the love of God we so love that we give. He that giveth not, loveth not. He that giveth sparingly, loveth sparingly.

Four times in the eighth chapter of Second Corinthians the Holy Spirit speaks of the grace of liberality. In verse one it is “the grace of God which hath been given in the churches of Macedonia.” God had bestowed upon them the gift of giving. In verse four it is “this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints.” In verse six it is “complete in you this grace also,” and in verse seven, “see that ye abound in this grace also.” Liberality therefore is a gift of God’s grace, a great favor of God bestowed for the blessing of him who will abound therein. Let us therefore “remember the words of the Lord Jesus how that he said. It is more blessed to give than to receive,” and let us strive for this greater blessing. The miserly are miserable. They are destitute of the spirit of grace.