tions at various times. This is recognized in the Scripture and provision is made by the teaching of the Word. The Chris tian should be informed concerning his attitude toward the rulers as it is re vealed in the Scripture. God’s people should not be law breakers but should bow to those in authority. WE SHOULD OBEY OUR RULERS Rom. 13:1 Governments engage in war. Every government since the beginning of his tory has had its sad experience. Some nations are peace-loving while others are quite war-like. David, the man after God’s own heart, was given by the Lord a program for fighting until he subdued his enemies. Joshua, the man of God, was clearly instructed to wage war with out compromise. In no place in Scripture is any nation told that it must not go to war. Ungodly men do not know the grace of God and therefore seek to ob tain by force that which they desire. The Christian is commanded to be in obedi ence. WE SHOULD PRAY FOR THE GOVERNMENT 1 Tim. 2:1 Most men in public positions of power, honor, and authority are not Christian men. They do not pray for themselves; therefore we should pray for them. They do not feel the need of divine counsel; therefore we should seek it for them. They do not realize the power of Satan to upset human conditions; we must see and pray in their* stead. These men do not realize the terrible and tragic con sequences of making decisions without God. Therefore we Christians must ex ercise our privilege in bringing the case before the Judge of all the earth. Let us do it. WE SHOULD GIVE TO THE GOVERNMENT Matt. 22:21 There is no excuse for a Christian to cheat or to deal in evasion in declaring his income tax. Our Lord plainly taught that we should support the government under which we live and enjoy our privileges. Someone must pay the sala ries of the various officials of government. Someone must pay for paving streets, for sewers, water systems, police pro tection, fire protection, and other such necessities in human life. We should pay our part without hesitation and in all honesty. Our Lord did not condone Peter in regard to the taxes. He did not seek to be free even Himself from taxes. He sent Peter for the money in the mouth of the fish whereby the taxes for both were paid. WE SHOULD HONOR OUR LEADERS Rom. 13:7 We live in a day when customs and practices are being disregarded. Very few persons will rise to give an aged person a seat on the trolley. Men rush ahead of women to get through a door or enter a bus. No longer is the hat T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
Dr. Walter L Wilson
LEARNING IN AND OUT OF SCHOOL Prov. 3:1-13; 2 Tim. 2:15
Every child of God should be a con stant student of the Scripture, of people, and of events. All around us are inter esting subjects for study which make life most interesting and certainly very profitable. We should learn to see the things at which, we look and to hear without preconceived ideas. Those who know the most and can apply their knowledge the best become most effective in Christian service and are most in de mand for ministry. We should study sub jects which will be profitable as well as interesting. Let us leam to know what God says and how to apply what He says to the human life. WE SHOULD LEARN OP THE LORD Matt. 11:29 The Lord will teach us how to become fishers of men. This is given to us in all three of the Synoptic Gospels. The Lord Jesus will teach us how to influence people for God. He will teach us how to know God Himself as well as the Holy Spirit and the truths of the Word. He will teach us how to live, for His pre cepts are right and His examples excel lent. He will teach us how to walk with God, for He walked with God. He will teach us how to pray as well as to preach. His call is “ leam of me.” IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE LEARNING AND YET NEVER LEARN 2 Tim. 3:7 We should approach every subject with a studious and inquiring mind, willing to be taught, and desirous to learn. One may sit in the schoolroom and listen to excellent teaching and yet not absorb very much and never apply it to life. It is possible to listen to good preaching for many years yet never leam the truths of God. It is possible to boast of having been in church for 20 years without missing a service, and yet be quite ig norant of the' Word of God. We should know what we believe and why we be lieve it. Page Twenfy-four .
WE LEARN FROM THE WORD OF GOD Rom. 15:4 The Scripture is full of interesting references to the animal kingdom, the vegetable kingdom, the mineral king dom, the celestial kingdom, the human kingdom, and the kingdom of God. If we will read the Bible studiously and thoughtfully, we shall learn God’s les sons from nature as well as from the precepts of the Scripture. God’s Word was not written to satisfy curiosity but rather to enrich the heart and the mind of the one who reads it. Let us seek to learn as we read that we may be well- taught Christians. MOSES WAS A LEARNED MAN Acts 7:22 Moses’ ministry has influenced the world. His actions and his attitudes have affected millions in every nation. This great man of God studied in Egypt which at that time was the center of education and knowledge. There he had every ad vantage as the king’s grandson and he took advantage of those opportunities. He studied the principal arts and sci ences of Egypt. He learned the ways and methods of the Egyptians; then he for sook it all to give his time, talents, and affections to the people of God. His train ing in Egypt stood him in good stead. He used all these talents in his great work as a deliverer of the people.
September 10, 1950 A CHRISTIAN AND HIS GOVERNMENT Matt. 22:15-22; 2 Sam. 23:3; 1 Pet. 2:11-17
Government may be éither good or bad. Men’s hearts are not always what they should be. Power given to men or assumed by them may be turned to chan nels of blessing or to avenues of cruelty. The Christian finds himself in both posi
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