Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 63, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 November 1915 — TOO MUCH MONEYMORE REFUSED [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TOO MUCH MONEYMORE REFUSED

t Kings 11 :tl—lt: 16.—November 1. A Lesson From the Far Past on Giving For Religious Purposes—Treasurers Without Bondsmen—The Temple Repaired—Typical Application of This Event—Necessity of Return to Bible Study—Doing Our Part In Rebuilding of Walls of Spiritual Zion. "God loveth a cheerful giver.’’—s Cor. 9 .-7. SIXTEEN years passed after the incidents of our previous Study, and found King Joash in his twehty-third year. Already he had made suggestions to the priests respecting the repairs of the Temple, which was considerably dilapidated, because the people were still half-hearted in the worship of Jehovah. The idolatry of the surrounding nations still influenced them. Some of them continued to burn incense upon the altars of Baal. Priests Poor Business Men. King Joash found that allowing the priests to collect the money wherewith to repair the Temple produced no results. The record does not tell that the

priests were dishonest in the use of the money, nor does it say that they spent the money unwisely. Possibly the people did not have confidence in the priests, and therefore did not give so freely. However, the king noted that the Temple continued to be di-

lapidated, and said to the priests, “Why repair ye not the breaches of the Temple?" Their reply is not given; but the royal mandate was, “Take no more money from your acquaintances." The king passed over the matter as lightly and courteously as possible, without charging the priests with embezzlement or neglect. A new procedure was to have an especially prepared money-chest inside the Temple Court, convenient to the worshipers who passed in and out, and under the care of the priest who served as doorkeeper. This method proved successful. The money speedily accumulated. Ere long there was a sufficiency to make the repairs and more. Further donations for this purpose were refused. The Temple was put into good order, and a general blessing followed the experience.

There is a lesson in this matter for us. People like to see results. They wish to know that monies donated sot benevolent purposes are not all absorbed for office expenses. Voluntary offerings have the approval of both God and men, rather than offerings that are importuned, coaxed, begged, wheedled from saints and sinners. Whoever gives to the Lord’s Cause is advantaged thereby. He not only forwards a benevolent Cause, but cultivates generosity in his own heart. “It is more blessed to give than to receive”—where the giving is voluntary. Church begging is undoubtedly doing great harm. The remark has been made that in some churches the chief item of religion is begging for money. The proper thought seems to be what the Scriptures inculcate; namely, that each Christian give according to his ability and interest in the work, and that nou-worshipers should not be expected to give nor requested to do so. Who does not know that a large proportion of the money collected for church purposes is unwillingly given by people who are not only not directly interested in the projects, but sometimes even opposed thereto! Thus Protestant business meh often give to Catholic charities rather than offend good customers. Likewise Catholic business men donate to Protestant enterprises with which they have no sympathy.—l Corinthians 1G :2. Breaks In the Temple Wall. Viewing the spiritual Temple, we perceive that outwardly, as represented by tlie magnificent churches of metro- . politan cities, noth-

ing more could be desired than what is now enjoyed. But the Scriptures portray the church conditions of our day under thq figure of the Laodicean Church. (Revelation 3:15-18.) It is from the spirit u a 1 standpoint, therefore, that the Temple of today’

needs repairs. The majority of her educated, including ministers, have abandoned all faith in the Bible as the Word of God. Yet they are not known as infidels, but by the less harsh term. “Higher Critics,” “Evolutionists/’ With many the faith in a personal God is shaking; and they incline to wonder whether We have not an unintelligent god—Nature—and whether mankind and all other intelligences are not merely evolutionary products. The cause and foundation of this disastrous condition is not far off. The absurdities of the creeds formulated during the Dark Ages arc so great that Intelligent people can noi longer accept them. We have made the mistake of supposing that these absurdities are based upon the Scriptures and well supported thereby. The truth is that the creeds contradict not only each other, but the Bible. To learn this, to believe this, signifies a return to Bible study with the colored spectacles of our fathers removed and with our hearts uplifted to God that He may give us the light promised to His faithful people in the end of the Gospel Age.

The Temple Cheat.

Twentieth Century Bible Study.