The Weight Could Not Be Found Out.
The sermon emphasizes the importance of giving to God without calculation, reflecting God's own lavish generosity and love.
F.B. Meyer emphasizes the beauty of unmeasured generosity in serving God, illustrating that true devotion transcends the need for accounting what we give. He draws parallels between the liberality of Solomon's people and Mary's extravagant gift of spikenard, highlighting that genuine giving comes from a heart overflowing with love rather than a desire for recognition. Meyer reflects on God's boundless generosity, which surpasses our understanding and expectations, encouraging believers to give freely and joyfully without keeping score.
Text
The Weight could not be found out. 2 Chron. iv. 18.
THIS was as it should be. There was no attempt to keep an accurate account of what was given to the service of God. Even Solomon's left hand did not know what his right hand did. There is a tendency in all of us to keep a strict account of what we give to God. We note it down in our ledgers; we rigorously observe the compact into which we have entered with Him; but the loftiest form of devotion overleaps such calculation.
This liberality of the people reminds us of Mary's. She never thought of the great cost of the precious spikenard which she broke over the Master's person. It was her joy to give her all; and it was only when Judas came on the scene, that we learn how many hundred pence it was worth. Thus the churches of Macedonia abounded from their deep poverty unto the riches of their liberality, so that, beyond their power, they gave to the cause of God.
This lavish generosity is the reflection of God's. There is no measure in his bounty. It is heaped up, pressed down, and running over. He never says, I will give up to a certain amount, and hold my hand; but He continues to give like the overflowings of the river of Egypt, or the abundance of the spring flowers, which cover the earth as with a carpet. Ah, what a God is ours, who loves with a love that passeth knowledge; and when He gives, exceeds abundance, however much we may have asked or thought. How truly may we say with the psalmist, "Many, 0 Lord my God, are the wonderful works that Thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us‑ward. They cannot be reckoned up in order unto Thee; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered."
Sermon Outline
- The people's liberality
- Mary's example of giving without calculation
- The churches of Macedonia's abundant giving
- God's lavish generosity
- God's bounty has no measure
- God's love exceeds human understanding
Key Quotes
“There is a tendency in all of us to keep a strict account of what we give to God.” — F.B. Meyer
“It was her joy to give her all; and it was only when Judas came on the scene, that we learn how many hundred pence it was worth.” — F.B. Meyer
“He never says, I will give up to a certain amount, and hold my hand; but He continues to give like the overflowings of the river of Egypt, or the abundance of the spring flowers, which cover the earth as with a carpet.” — F.B. Meyer
Application Points
- We should strive to give to God without calculating the cost, just as Mary gave her all without thinking of the cost of the precious spikenard.
- God's love and generosity are beyond human understanding, and we should trust in His abundance rather than our own limitations.
- We should reflect God's own lavish generosity in our giving, being willing to go beyond what we think is possible to serve Him.