July, 1942
THE K I NG ’ S BUSINESS
269
For Those Who Have Topics I. OUR RELATIONSHIP TO CHRIS TIANS. It seems almost trite to say that Paul admonishes believers to live to gether in loVe (1 Thess. 4:9, 10; cf.' Jqhn 17:20, 21; 1 John 3:14-19; 4:10-13, 21), and yet only a brief survey of the Christian church today is needed to portray forcefully the internal strife and dissension,found on every hand. There are two, kinds of people in the world, 'creators and critics. The first type lose themselves In some great task which demands all of their energy and mental capacity. They are too wrapped up in d o i n g a job to waste time in tearing down the work of others. The second class are busy, not in producing, but in criticizing what some one else has produced. The early Christian church was ab sorbed in doing the task of witness ing to the saving power of Christ, win ning men and women to, Him. ' The c h u r c h today is wasting its forces criticizing the actions or doctrines of some other group. The bearing of Paul’s words on the subject of two-way friendships is this: Friendship is based on confidence. If our basic attitude toward othei; groups of Christian believers is one of sus picion and criticism, friendship is an Mrs. Cripps comments, “This little book centers around Negroes whom I have come to know well in twen ty.two years I have lived in the deep South. I have been much im pressed by their simplicity, their humorous philosophy, and the great advances they have made in less than a hundred years from slavery to their present standard of living.” Cloth bound------ $ 1.00 THE PRODIGAL RETURNS By Harold G. Black A modern story--writer here clothes the familiar Parable of the Prodigal Son in present-day imagery, and the result is a fascinating story that reads like fiction. Cloth bound _QQ GLORY ROAD By A ljce K. Cripps
impossibility. For example, if some one were flying with me and were continually telling me when to turn or when to gain altitude or when to lose altitude because he was afraid I did not know how to fly the plane properly, it would certainly, destroy any enjoyment of the trip, and I would be cafeful not to ask that person to take another ride with me. Trouble in the church very often starts when we begin to tell the other person how to do his job for the Lord. Our own God-given task can keep us busy. Only' when we project our re lationships to other groups in an atti tude of love and helpfulness can there be any possibility of a friendship’s developing. Disregarding nonessen tials, we find that the cardinal doc trines of our faith form the foundation for our fellowship with other groups. II. OUR RELATIONSHIP TO NON- CHRISTIANS. “ Study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have, lack of nothing” (1 Thess. 4:11, 12). . It is a sad commentary that often we find Christians who fail to hold the respect of a non-Christian community
because of their lack of integrity. Too often, also, we who profess the name of Christ have not thrown ourselves whole-heartédly into the task God has given us, w h e t h e r it be digging a ditch, building a machine, or preach ing a sermon. We have hidden be hind the excuse that we ,can accom plish nothing because we will not par take of the things of the world, when for the most part our failure has been directly due to our own laziness (cf. Prov. 6:6, 20:4; 24:30-34; 22:29). Being a Christian should make a man bet ter in whatever job he has; Chris tians, to be respected, must quit sit ting atound sentimentalizing “About the swept by and by and just get in and do some plain hard work! God does not call certain men into thè ministry and let all the rest of us Christians go walking around with only a hazy idea Of what we should do. God has a “call”—a plan—for each life, Every Christian professional man, merchant, or laborer can be as definitély called to ¿is job .as is the preacher. We should seek the Lord’s place for us—and then open the throt tle for full speed ahead. CONCLUSION:
Everywhere in oùr country there are groups of young people who are earnestly seeking to worship the Lord and to find His will for their lives. YOUR R E C R EA T IO N A L R EAD IN G
THE MYSTERY OF MAR SABA By John H. Hunter
AFTER THEIR OWN PLEASURE , By Edith S. Pedersen
A story for young folks. It is not at all “preachy,” yet in the varying experiences of its characters, onè is sure to See the difference between being a Christian and just belong ing to church activities. Cloth bound ......— — $ 1 , 0 0
Here is a story that is unique among the fiction of today. It is clean, romantic, thrilling, inspiring •- . a page of contemporary history and a great Christian apologetic. Cloth bound ......................... $ 2 QQ
MARY MORTON'S EXPERIMENT By Janet G. Sligh
STORIES OF HYMNS WE LOVE By Cecilia M. Rudin
A delightful story of a young school teacher’s experiment of keeping house during a rest from school duties. It is a completely up-to- date tale of folks we meet today, set forth well in an atmosphere of humor, tragedy, and earnest Chris tian faith. Cloth bound... $ 1 . 0 0
What is the human drama behind “Silent Night, Holy Night,” “Tell Me the Old, Old Story,” “Onward Chris tian Soldiers,” etc.? In fascinating story form, this book gives you the origin, authorship, and inspiration of the great hymns we love. Gift binding ........ $ 1.00
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