Wkat Jesus Ckrist
Taugnt About Money
The Scriptural Plan of Giving— a Contrast to Some Modern Day Money Raising Methods By DR. A . T. PIERSON
O UR Lord’s teachings as to money gifts, if obeyed, would forever ban ish all limitations on church work and all concern about supplies. These teachings áre radical and revolutionary. So far are they from practical accept ance that, although perfectly explicit, they seem more like a dead language that has passed out of use than like a living tongue that millions know and speak. Yet, when these principles and precepts of our Lord on giving are col lated and compared, they are found to contain the materials of a complete ethi cal system on the subject of money, its true nature, value, relation and use. Should these sublime and unique teach ings be translated into living, the effect not only upon benevolent work, but upon our whole spiritual character, would be incalculable. Brevity compels us to be content with a simple outline of this body of teaching, scattered through the four Gospel narratives, but gathered up and methodically presented by Paul in that exhaustive discussion of Chris tian giving in 2 Cor. 8 and 9. I. The Principle o f Stewardship The basis of Christ’s teaching about money is the fundamental conception of stewardship. (Luke 12:42; 16:1-8) Not only money, but every gift of God, is received in trust for His use. Man is not an owner, but a trustee, managing another’s goods and estates, God being the one original and inalienable Owner of all. The two things required of stew ards are that they be “ faithful and wise,” that they study to employ God’s gifts with fidelity and sagacity—fidelity so that God’s entrustments be not per
verted to self-indulgence; sagacity, so that they be converted into as large gains as possible. This is a perfectly plain and simple basal principle, yet it is not the accepted foundation of our money-making and using in the Church today. n . The Principle of Investment In our Lord’s teachings we find this kindred principle of investment: “ Thou oughtest to have put my money to the exchangers” (Matt. 25:27). Money changing and investing is an old busi ness. The “ exchangers,” as Luke ren ders, are the bankers, the ancient Trap- ezitae, who received, money on deposit and paid interest for its use, like mod ern savings institutions. The argument of our Lord refutes the unfaithful ser vant on his own plea, which his course showed to be not an excuse, but a pre text. It was true that he dared not risk trading on his own account; why not, without such risk, get a moderate interest for his Master by lending to professional traders? It was not fear but sloth that lay behind his unfaith fulness and unprofitableness. Thus indirectly is taught the valuable lesson that timid souls, unfitted for bold and independent service in behalf of the kingdom, may link their incapacity to the capacity and sagacity of others who will make their gifts and possessions of use to the Master and His Church. Hi. The Subordination o f Money Another most important principle is ithe subordination of money, as em phatically taught and illustrated in the rich young ruler. (Matt. 19:16-26.) This narrative, rightly regarded, pre-
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