104
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
February 1930
There is no other book so various as the Bible, nor one so full of concentrated wisdom. Whether it be of the law, busi ness, morals, or that vision which leads the imagination in the creation o f con structive enterprises for the happiness of mankind, he who seeks for guidance in any o f these things may look inside its covers and find illumination. The study of this Book in your Bible classes is a post-graduate course in the richest library of human experience.— President Hoover. —o— March 2, 1930 Faith and What It Does Heb. 11:1-10, 32-38. (Consecration Meeting) S uggestive O rder of S ervice Opening Songs: “Faith o f Our Fa thers,” “My Faith Looks Up to Thee.” Give story of hymns sung (see below). Prayer, Read responsively above Scripture. Testimonies from members. Announcements and Offering. Some member read or recite poem “I Believe God,” given below. Five-Minute Talk on Topic by Pastor. Leader’s Remarks. Closing Song. Mizpah. * * * T reatment of T opic When we hear someone say, “ I have faith in so-and-so,” we conclude that the person making the remark believes in and trusts implicitly in the one of whom he speaks. Just so with the Christian, who manifests faith in God, he believes God, he takes God at His Word, he trusts im plicitly in God in all things. In the chapter given for this, lesson, the expression “by faith” or its equivalent oc curs some twenty-four times, and in every case it signifies a seeing with the spiritual eye what cannot be seen with the natural eye. Because o f the many splendid “ Side- Lights” on this subject we will give the remaining space to that section. The leader will do well to work into his talk many of the quotations given. * * * H y m n S tories “Faith o f Our Fathers" The words of this hymn were written by Rev. Frederick William Faber, who lived between the years 1814 and 1863. He wrote many other beautiful hymns, among them “Hark! Hark! my Soul!” which we all love. The music was written by Henry Fred erick Hemy, who was born in 1818. “My Faith Looks Up to Thee" “ I gave form to what I felt,” says Dr. Palmer, “by writing, with little effort, the stanzas. I recollect I wrote them with tender emotion and ended the last line with tears.” He placed the manuscript in
stranger called on me in my study, and said: “Mr. McNeil, I understand you have a debt on your church that you are anxious to pay off. I have heard a great deal about your work, and I want to help.” Then, laying a blank check on my desk, he said, “Fill in the amount you re quire and I will return later and sign it,” and he was gone. I sat there looking at that blank check. “ Surely,” said I, “he doesn’t realize that our debt runs into thousands o f pounds. He would never give that much. But he told me to make it out for the full amount. No, I’ll just put down half. I am afraid he will not sign even that much.” After a little the stranger returned, asked for the check, and with scarcely a glance signed it, and left without another word. I looked at the signature. It was that o f a well- known philanthropist. When I realized that he meant what he said, and could easily have paid the whole debt, I ex claimed, “ O man o f little faith, I will never doubt again.” The Problem of Leisure TsjOT many years ago, long working hours were a serious problem, but nowadays a greater problem has arisen, namely, the problem of our leisure time. Dean Inge of England, recently said: “The right use of leisure is no doubt a harder problem than the right use of our working hours. The soul is dyed the color of its leisure thoughts. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” We develop character, no doubt, in our daily occupations, but our spiritual growth is even more advanced or retarded by the uses to which we put that part o f our time which we peculiarly call our own. What have we to show for these hours? They are in reality a magnificent oppor tunity to broaden our field of thought, feeling, action, and touch life at many points. One way to keep young is to have many interests and to diversify one’s occu pation. It is amazing how much we can accomplish if we only change our activi ties.—i Robert P. Anderson in “ Christian Endeavor World.” •S'*. I Am Today I came to you this morning. I came fresh from the hand o f God. I am called Today. I am clean and white. If you touch me with soiled fingers, my beauty will be marred. A noble thought will glorify me. A kind word will halo me with bright est light. A dfeed o f love will connect me with eternity. A cheerful smile will gild me with the colors o f dawn. Soon I will be Yesterday. If you use me well and wisely, I shall become a beautiful, green spot in your life, where memory will fondly lin ger. Misuse me and I become a hideous, de formed thing, which men name Regret. Your Master and mine says: “Son, go work today in my vineyard." I am here, use me. Eternity will be made richer or poorer because o f you and me. I am Today!— E. C. Baird, in the "Christian Standard."
A Conviction “I honestly consider the K. B. the best Scriptural periodical that I have ever seen and I am perfectly comnnced that losing its luxurious feast o f sound Bib lical knowledge is one o f my greatest spiritual losses; there fore I feel I cannot do without it, and wish to become a regular receiver o f it again." — J. E., England.
a pocketbook, and carried it there for some time. One day, in Boston, he met Dr. Lowell Mason, who inquired if Mr. Palmer had not some hymn to contribute to his new book. The pocketbook was produced and the hymn was brought to light. Dr. Mason took a copy of the song, and after reaching home was so much impressed with it that he wrote for it the famous tune “ Olivet,” to which it is usually sung. A short time afterward he met the author on the street and ex claimed : “Mr, Palmer, you may live many years and do many good things, but I think you will be best known to posterity as the au thor o f ‘My Faith Looks Up to Thee.’ ” * * * S ide -L ights “I Believe God" “I believe”—but do I? Am I sure? Can I trust my trusting to endure? Can I hope that my belief will last? Will my hand forever hold Him fast?' Am I certain I am saved from sin? Do I feel His presence here within? Do I hear Him tell me that He cares? Do I see the answers to my prayers? Do no fears my confidence assail? Do I know my faith will never fail? “ I believe”—do I ! I believe He will never fail me, never leave; I believe He holds me, and I know His strong hand will never let me go. Seeing, hearing, feeling—what are these? Given or withheld as He shall please. I believe in Him and what He saith. I have faith in Him, but not in my faith; That may fail; tomorrow or today Trust may weaken, feeling pass away, Thoughts grow weary, anxious or de pressed ; I believe in God—and here I rest. A blind man tapped the pavement with his stick, in New York, near the Pennsyl vania Station. He felt about the curb at the busy crossing and shouted con fidently: “How about it, Charlie?” The traffic officer in the middle o f the avenue looked up, saw the blind man, held up his hand, blew his whistle. “All right, Ben,” he called, smiling. And the blind man crossed the street fearlessly between the lines o f vehicles held up for him. It’s a picture o f the way God’s providence “holds up the traffic” for us.
A church of which I was at one time pastor was heavily in debt, and I made it a subject o f much prayer. One day a
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