Gracious Dealing
The sermon emphasizes the importance of dealing graciously with others, as commanded by God, and promises that this will lead to God's blessing in all aspects of life.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the importance of gracious dealings, illustrating how the Lord commands Israelite masters to liberate their bondservants and support them generously as a reflection of God's own grace. He highlights that treating others well is essential for those who have received grace from God, and that our actions towards others can influence the blessings we receive from Him. Spurgeon assures that God's blessings encompass prosperity, contentment, and a deep sense of His favor, which enriches our lives beyond material wealth. Ultimately, he encourages believers to embody generosity, as it aligns with the character of a gracious God and leads to a joyful life in anticipation of eternal blessings.
Text
And the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all that thou doest. (Deuteronomy 15:18)
An Israelitish master was to give his bondservant liberty in due time, and when he left his service he was to start him in life with a liberal portion, This was to be done heartily and cheerfully, and then the Lord promised to bless the generous act. The spirit of this precept, and, indeed, the whole law of Christ, binds us to treat people well. We ought to remember how the Lord has dealt with us, and that this renders it absolutely needful that we should deal graciously with others, It becomes those to be generous who are the children of a gracious God.
How can we expect our great Master to bless us in our business if we oppress those who serve us?
What a benediction is here set before the liberal mind! To be blessed in all that we do is to be blessed indeed. The Lord will send us this partly in prosperity, partly in content of mind, and partly in a sense of His favor, which is the best of all blessings. He can make us feel that we are under His special care and are surrounded by His peculiar love. This makes this earthly life a joyous prelude to the life to come. God's blessing is more than a fortune. It maketh rich and addeth no sorrow therewith.
Sermon Outline
- The Command to Deal Graciously
- The Spirit of the Precept
- The Benefits of Dealing Graciously
- Expecting God's blessing in our business
- The benediction of being blessed in all that we do
- 'The components of God''s blessing: prosperity, content of mind, and sense of favor'
Key Quotes
“To be blessed in all that we do is to be blessed indeed.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“God's blessing is more than a fortune. It maketh rich and addeth no sorrow therewith.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We should treat others well and deal graciously with them in order to expect God's blessing in our business.
- Remembering God's dealings with us helps us to understand the importance of dealing graciously with others.
- God's blessing is more than a fortune, as it brings no sorrow and makes us rich in a deeper sense.