What is the answer for complaining? “Commit thy way unto the Lord and] He w ill direct thy paths.” “Delight thy self in the Lord!” * God is not concerned with our abilities or inabilities, but rather with our availabili ties. » * * A TIP FOR THE LORD As the collection plate was being passed, a man dug down and found a nickel for his son, so that he might put it in the offering. He himself sat back smugly, proud of what he had done to aid in the fight against the world, the flesh and the devil. His new automo bile was parked outside, his check book was safe in his pocket, and smiling down upon his son, he felt most com plete and generous. He hadn’t remem bered how the afternoon before, he and a friend had enjoyed some refresh ments at an ice cream store. The cash register stamped $.65 on the slip. Peel ing off a bill he handed it to the waiter and gave him a fifteen cent tip when the change was returned. Later he had his shoes polished and handed out 25 cents for the shine, plus a ten cent tip. Yet only a nickel to the Lord! God is not as much interested in the amount you give as He is in what you have left. How many today worship themselves and the material istic philosophy that pervades nearly every area of life? A true measure of our love for the Saviour can quickly be seen in how it affects our wallets and pocketbooks. “God has power to shower all kinds of blessings upon you, so that, having, under all circumstances and on all oc casions, all that you can need, you may be able to shower all kinds of benefits upon others” (20th Century NewTestament IICorinthians 9:8). * It is too bad that some people don't have hearts as soft as their heads. * * * Some people whoare most careful about the gilt on the edge of their Bible care least for the gold in its pages. 22 * * * *
Parables and Pearls (continued) hear him. The mother was pleased at his enthusiasm but wondered if there was some special reason for his interest. He told her, “Sure. You see, mom, when he was here before, l was just six. I put in all the pennies I had for the offering. So, l have to hear what he's done w ith my money.” That is the way it should be. How wonderful to realize that when we invest for God in a ministry dedicated to winning souls to Jesus Christ, we are actually multiplying ourselves. If you cannot go yourself, make it possible for Biola to train someone in your stead! * * * Some people erroneously think that they're worth a lot of money just because they have it- * * * THE ANSWER FOR COMPLAINING The Bible rightly admonishes us to delight ourselves in the Lord. The trou ble is we see so little true contentment in the world today that it usually leads one to complaining and criticizing. The Psalmist said, “/ complained and my spirit was overwhelmed” (Psalm 77:3). If Satan is allowed to drive a little wedge of complaint into the soul, all the inner fortitude and strength leaks away. Complaint changes to criticism, criticism curdles into cynicism, and cynicism is a bomb which may at any time explode into thoughts of hate, and hate becomes murder. A man com plained because he had to walk four blocks from the parking lot to his office, and then he saw a man who was sick, hungry and without legs. An other complained because the light was poor, then he met a man whose eye sight was gone. Still another com plained because of his income tax, until he visited an area of the city which was depressed and where people had nothing. Our Lord never bribes His followers w ith a promise of sunny ease. He doesn’t buy us w ith illicit gold. He doesn’t put a glittering crown upon the entrance gate and hide the cross in the shadows. The Saviour said, “Let him take up his cross daily and follow me.”
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