336. ACT 20:35. THE BLESSEDNESS OF GIVING OVER THAT OF RECEIVING
Act_20:35. The Blessedness of Giving Over That of Receiving
"Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive."’97Act_20:35.
That is a striking verse which concludes the gospel testimony of John, see Act_21:25. Doubtless, the passage is highly hyperbolical, but it contains this great truth; that the Saviour’s sayings were so very numerous that it was impossible that they all could be recorded, or if recorded, that they could he read. Now, we need not be astonished at finding Paul using a saying which he ascribed to Jesus, although it is not found in the writings of the evangelists. The fact of Paul, who possessed the spirit of inspiration, stating this sentence to be Christ’s, is sufficient warrant for its divinity. Let us, then, regard this passage as a precious gem of truth, rescued by the apostle from oblivion, that it might instruct and edify all true believers, unto he end of the world. In the text,
I. There is a Blessedness implied.
The blessedness implied, is that of "receiving." The passage derives all its logical force from this.
1. It is blessed to receive a supply of our temporal wants.
Thus, we are blessed of God every day. The body has its wants and necessities, and these must be met, or misery is the result. As temporal happiness is infinitely preferable to temporal misery, then it necessarily follows that it must be blessed to receive. Now, it is also blessed to receive this temporal supply through the medium of our fellow-men. For an illustration of this, see the miracle of the loaves and fishes, Mat_14:14, &c.
2. It is blessed to receive the alleviation of our sorrows and sufferings.
Man is an heir of sorrow; born to it ever exposed to it. In a world where i abounds, sometimes this may be sorrow of mind, sometimes pain of body; well, it is a blessed thing to receive consolation, to receive healing, or even alleviation. Who does not congratulate those who were the objects of Christ’s compassion on earth? Do you not say that blind Bartimeus was blessed; the man whose son was possessed; the lepers; the widow who received her son to life again? O yes, surely they were blessed. So, when our poor, afflicted fellow-creatures are sick and in sorrow, is it not blessed for them to receive sympathy and aid?
3. It is especially blessed to receive spiritual favors.
Jesus styled it to be blessed to have the privileges of the gospel, Luk_10:23. When the mind is dark, how blessed is the light; when the heart is hard, how blessed to receive the powerful, softening influences of the Holy Spirit; when the soul is contrite, and in sorrow, how blessed to receive the comforts of the Holy Ghost, and a sense of forgiving love; how blessed to receive grace to help, &c. Oh, who can tell how blessed it is to receive the pearl of great price; the new name; the white stone, &c.? Now, God generally makes use of man as the instrument in conveying the knowledge of the way of salvation to the benighted sinner. But we notice,
II. The greater Blessedness affirmed.
"It is more blessed to give," &c.
1. It is more honorable to give than to receive.
Men have applied worldly honor to many things horrid and vile. The successful leader of a destroying army; the man who risks his life, and dares to attempt the death of another, is styled so. Oh, this is falsely named, this is baseness, whatever men may call it. A great deal of the honor of the world, which is not evil, is vain, trifling, and worthless; but there is true honor connected with benevolence and liberality. The honors of a Howard, a Clarkson and a Reynolds will flourish when the names of statesmen, philosophers, and warriors shall have perished from the earth The station of the recipient is less dignified than that of the person who is necessitated to receive.
2. It is more pleasurable to give than to receive.
The circumstances of the giver must be best. One indicates fulness: the other, indigence and necessity. The feelings of the giver are much more pleasurable; it is true luxury, the essence of bliss, and yields solid satisfaction, &c.; conscience smiles; God smiles; and those whom we relieve smile. Amid these, the soul obtains noontide joy and unspeakable blessedness.
3. It is more profitable to give.
By benevolence, we improve our own character; we increase the talents which God has given us. "Unto him that hath," &c. We cannot do good to others without benefiting ourselves. The streams which go out from us, will return upon us again. More especially, it is more profitable to sow the golden grain, than to lay it up. Now, in giving we shall obtain enlargement of soul; expansion of the moral powers; and in the day of judgment, a cup of cold water given to a disciple, shall not lose its reward. See Isa_58:10-11; 1Ti_6:17, &c.
4. It is more heavenly and divine.
When we think of earth, we contemplate a needy world, constantly requiring the outpouring of blessings from above. When we think of heaven, we think of a world of abundance and profusion; a world from whence flow streams of bliss throughout the whole universe of God. But what is the greatest blessedness to which man or angel is capable of being exalted? Likeness to the divine glory. This was man’s original dignity. And do not forget, that while God is glorious in wisdom, holiness, and truth, yet none of these form the preeminent glory of God. I must direct you back to the history of Moses; to him who held such holy fellowship and converse with Deity; who prayed, (Exo_33:13,) "I beseech thee, show me thy glory," &c. God said, "I will make all my goodness to pass before thee." Then the Psa. ist invites us to "taste and see,"&c. And this is the apostle’s description of Deity: "God is love." Thus, God is good universally, and is ever doing good, by giving to all his creatures. All depend upon him, he supports all, from the flaming seraph to the fluttering insect; and it is only when we rise to the lofty eminence of liberality, that we are closely allied to the heavenly and divine. Then, remember the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world.
"Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ," &c.; and what was his whole life? a life of giving; he gave light to the ignorant; he gave pardon to the guilty; peace to the wretched; hope to the miserable; life to the dead; and salvation to the lost. What gave he? He gave you his time and his powers. He gave his living words, and flowing tears. He gave all his heart’s softest emotions. He gave his person to the soldiers, his back to the scourgers, his cheek to the smiters, his head to the thorns. He gave what? He gave you his life; he humbled himself to death, even the death of the cross. In giving, therefore, we become like-minded with Jesus, and obtain the dignity of being his true followers. I refer finally, To the Holy Spirit. What is the prerogative of the Spirit? oh, it is to give, it is to impart. And what could we do without his influence? without this, no knowledge of sin, no conversion, no regeneration, no holiness, no heaven; yes, it is the glory of the Deity to impart and to receive not. Then, to give, is to be like God; and to participate in his felicity, must be blessedness indeed.
Application
Learn,
1. That the Christian character is essentially benevolent. We cannot have the mind of Christ, obey his precepts, or follow his example, without it.
2. Christians should often remember Christ’s words, especially when the heart is backward, or cold, or wearied, when great demands are made, &c.
3. Christ is a merciful master. His claims are never hard, &c. He expects us to do according to the ability he has given. Widow’s mite, Mar_7:42. All have something to impart.
4. What is given to the Lord must be given rightly, with purity of motive. Not ostentatiously, not self-righteously.
5. True beneficence will be amply rewarded at the last day.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS