What a call and what a field in the needs of the world for all God's people to prove that God's plan is theirs: "that there may be equality," and that the spirit of selfish contentment with greater privilege has been banished by the Cross. In philanthropy and missions what a need for all saints doing their utmost "according to their power--yea, and beyond their power." In sight of the heathen world, oh! what an appeal that there be equality and that we shall share and share alike with them what God gives us. What new, unthought of, eternal value, money gets as one of the powers for giving to the perishing, of the abundance we have in Christ. There is no room left to enlarge on the further lessons of chap. 9. Let me just mention them: (v. 6.) Let the giving be bountiful: it will bring a bountiful reward. (v. 7.) Let the giving not be grudging or of necessity: the cheerful giver receives God's love. (v. 8.) Let the giving be trustful: God will make all grace abound. (v. 11-13.) Your giving brings glory to God by the thanksgiving of those you bless. (v. 15.) Your giving reminds of God's giving, and calls to thanks for His unspeakable gift. What a world of holy thought and heavenly light is opened up by the gifts of the Macedonians and Corinthian converts! Shall we not under the power of that thought and light review all our giving and see that it be brought into perfect accord with the Divine pattern in these chapters? Shall we not begin at once, and yield to Him, who became poor for us, everything that self-interest and self-indulgence has hitherto claimed and held? And shall we not beseech Him to show in us by His Spirit that the one worth and blessedness of money is to spend it for our Lord, to bless our fellowmen, to use it as an instrument and an exercise of grace, and so to turn even it into the treasure that lasts for eternity? [Illustration] IV THE POVERTY OF CHRIST. "Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might become rich." _II. Corinthians, 8, 9._