Here they are, but I hear someone say, “ They could never be used in that condition.” Why do you say that? I know that they are wound about with a fish line, but you must remember that it is a good fish line. In fact, it is new, as I bought it last week. “ Just the same, Mister, no smart coach would let a fellow on the field with shoes like that.” Yes, Bill, you are right. We are very particular on the athletic field to make sure that the members of the team have no unnecessary handicaps. Clothing must be reduced to a mini mum in weight.
being the best, as far as giving is concerned. In thinking of giving, it is well for us to remember that we are only the stewards of God’s gifts. In the busi ness world, a steward needs to be very careful about the way he han dles the money or goods entrusted to him, for he must do as the owner desires. We forget that God has entrusted to us many things besides money. We have health, clear minds, time, and talents. We need to ask our selves the question, “ Are we using these gifts from God for ourselves or for others for His sake?” These hearts are not different in size and shape, but they are entirely different when it comes to the matter of giving. This rubber heart gives immediately without a sound. No matter from which direction it is ap proached, it always gives, cheerfully and silently. Notice how differently the tin heart acts when asked to give. It will not stretch the least little bit in any direction. It is not silent about it either, but makes a good deal of noise. (Rattle the tin by twisting it so that it can be heard.) Many people are like this tin heart when they are asked to give of their possessions, whether it be of time, talents, or money. They make a big fuss. They need their money for themselves, or they haven’t the time to waste on others, or they want to use their talents for their own good.
August 29, 1954 A T ight T ater
OBJECTS: Two potatoes, a piece of cardboard and a picture frame. (One potato should be as straight and slim as possible. Split it down the middle and mount on the cardboard, before placing the cardboard in the picture frame. Take a small piece of potato and make a head, placing it in the proper position in the frame. With ink, draw eyes, nose and mouth.) LESSON: What is this I hold in my hand? Some say, “ Potato,” others, “ Spud,” and still another, “Tater.”
Being careful on the athletic field is necessary, but it is even more im portant that we should be careful in the race of life. Paul in writing to the church at Corinth said, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mas tery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible” (1 Cor. 9:24,25). Again in 2 Tim. 2:4, 5, we read, “No man that war- reth entangleth himself with the af fairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for the masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” In athletics, the team is required to observe strict training rules, which have to do with eating, sleeping and habits, in hopes that by so doing honors will be won for the school. The trophy if won will not be long remembered. Should not the Chris tian follow the rules which God has given, in order that he might win the incorruptible prize which God has for him? OBJECTS: A tin heart and a rubber heart. (The rubber heart can be cut from an old automobile tire tube.) LESSON: These two hearts are like two kinds of Christian givers. They are the same size and shape, but they are very different. This one of tin looks the brightest, but it is far from August 22, 1954 G ive and G ain
Yes, potatoes are called by various names, but today, I want to refer to this one as a tater. I want to talk to you about a Tight Tater, and when I use the word tight, I have in mind someone who is stingy. Here is a picture of the stingy tater. His name is Tes Tator. If you should look up the word “Testator” in the dictionary you would find this definition: “ One who makes and leaves a will or testament at death.” Now I want to tell you about this stingy fellow by the name of Tes Tator. He would not give to the poor, though some were related to him. He would not give to the church while he was alive and could use his money for himself. However, he made a will and gave $5.00 to the church. It was to be given to the church after he was dead and had no possibility of wanting to use it for himself. He sure was a tight tater. There are people living today who are like this tater, even as there were in the day when James wrote, “ If a brother or sister be naked, and desti tute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstand ing ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?” (2:15,16). Again in 1 John 3:17 we read, “ But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?”
How sad they will be when they stand in the presence of Christ and give a reckoning. They will be the losers in the end. We only truly save that which we give to God. How happy those Christians will be who have giving hearts, like this rubber one, when they stand in the presence of Christ and hear Him say: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” Paul in writing to the church at Corinth gave the Ma c e d o n i a n churches as an example of the right kind of givers. “How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their lib erality” (2 Cor. 8:2).
JULY, 1954
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