Friday, May 4, 2018


WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday May 6, 2018

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GIVING FROM A GENEROUS HEART
(Devotion to GOD is best expressed in our giving)
(Exodus 35:4-36:7 and 2 Corinthians 9)

   Throughout all the ages we can find that, one of the oldest principals of life, which continues to persist in both, the physical, and the spiritual world, is that, the size of a harvest, under normal circumstances, always corresponds directly with the amount of sowing which had been done. Typically, the more generously we sow, the greater our harvest is.
    JESUS tells us in Luke 14, verses 28-30 that we should not begin a building project until we know exactly what it will cost, and, have already procured in advance, the finances necessary to complete the job. In other words, we should never have to construct a Christian Church assembly building, for example, on borrowed money. If and when we do, we make GOD’s House a slave to the worldly lending institutions that financed us, who, by the way, are not governed by the Word of GOD, but rather, are luciferic in their policymaking. When we borrow money from the devil, he, quite literally, becomes our landlord, and I promise you, nothing GODly is going to be happening inside that structure.
    In Exodus 35, Moses, the man of GOD, calls all of the people together and instructs them on what ”thus says the LORD” about how he wants HIS Tabernacle (Church buildings) to be constructed. Here Moses tells them that it will be built on the “generous giving of the time, talent, and treasure of the faithful members of the assembly”.
    In verse 21 we see that the completion of the project would be made possible only by those, whose hearts were stirred by what GOD wanted, and who desired very earnestly to please HIM. The people aligned their interests with GOD, and, as a result, both men and women came with many possessions, their time, and, their GOD-given abilities, to donate those assets, to the fulfillment of the goal.
    In Exodus 36, verses 1-7, we see that, after the skilled laborers, Bezalel, Oholiab, and others, whom the LORD had chosen to oversee the project, came to Moses and confirmed that they had everything they needed “to complete the work”. Then, and only then, did Moses give the order “to begin the work”.
    Over in 2 Corinthians 9, the New Testament records that, as Paul was continuing on with his written lecture to the Corinthians on generous giving, he begins to focus his efforts more clearly on the collection for the Christians central “Mother Church” at Jerusalem.
    In this section of his letter, Paul issues a not- so-subtle reminder to the Corinthians of how eager they were to help the cause of the central church when they had first heard of their troubles a year earlier. This reminder is issued here, first in written form, so as to spare their branch of the Christian Church Network the embarrassment of not being prepared as promised, or, not being willing to follow through on what they had started.
    Paul had been boasting about the generosity of the Corinthians to the Macedonians, and his boasting had helped to stir up enthusiasm there, and, in a lot of other churches along the Christian network of believers. In addition, he had sent Titus, along with two other trusted men from the Church to help ensure that the gifts they had promised would be ready when he himself arrived some time later.
    The relationship between Paul and the brethren at Corinth had been plenty strained in the three years since Paul had visited there, and he had suffered much while he awaited their reaction to his “sorrowful letter” that he had sent earlier by Titus. However, he truly cared for the Christians at Corinth and he wanted to make amends with them, but more importantly, he needed to uphold the integrity of his apostolic credentials. Paul did spend the following winter months in Corinth, and it was at that time, that, he probably wrote his, now famous, letter to the Romans.
    This second letter to the Corinthians, however, is most personal, and perhaps, the least doctrinal of all of Paul’s known letters to the Christian churches of the first century. He tells of some very personal experiences in this letter as he vividly reveals an intense emotion and personality, not seen in any of his other epistles. This letter truly shows us Paul’s deep sincerity and determination to live by the principals of material exchange  between churches, that really had already been laid out by GOD in HIS law since the days of the Israelites desert experience with the “manna from Heaven” (Exodus 16:18). There GOD sought to show us that, the person who follows HIM, needs will always be met. JESUS, our LORD and SAVIOR, sought to show us the very same thing during HIS lifetime here on earth.
    Remember, anyone who sows generously will reap generously, and anyone who sows sparingly, will reap sparingly. Paul warns us, however, that we should not give reluctantly, or, in response to pressure, because GOD only loves the attitude of a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). And GOD will generously provide for all of our needs, with plenty left over, so that we can share even further with others in need.
    GOD gives us many opportunities to do good deeds, and HE will produce a great harvest of generosity in all those who take advantage of those opportunities by using them to help someone else in need (Vs.10-11). That’s right! The true Christian should want more, so that they can have more to give away. And when we use the blessings that GOD has given us to enrich the lives of others, two things will transpire. First, we will have met the needs of someone who may have otherwise gone without. And secondly, that person whom you helped will hopefully see the need to glorify GOD through their expression of thanksgiving. In both instances, GOD will be pleased, and your generosity will prove to HIM, your good stewardship, and, your obedience to the Gospel of CHRIST (Vs.12-13).
    I’ll leave you with the well-known story of “the widow’s offering”, as it is so vividly depicted by Luke in chapter 21, verses 1-4, of his Gospel account, where it states; “While JESUS was in the temple, HE watched the rich people putting their gifts into the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two pennies. Then JESUS responded, “I assure you, this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they (the rich) have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has” (NLT).
    In my mind, this lady’s attitude, and spirit for giving sets the New Testament standard of CHRIST for gracious, cheerful, GODly benevolence on a human level. And her example remains there for all to see and understand, not just in the first century, but even in this day and age.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander





                                 
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