327
July 1932
T h e . K i n g ’ s B u s i n e s s
Meditation on the Lesson The church at Corinth was torn by fac tions dishonoring to their Master, Christ. Paul writes his first letter to reprove and instruct. He is exercised over the deepen ing divisions and increasing contentions between these people whom he addresses as “the sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name o f Jesus Christ our Lord.” These factions were due to the carnality of the Corinthians, and to their inordinate love o f wisdom and eloquence. They were babes in Christ; that is, children in Chris tian knowledge and experience. This idea Paul expresses by saying that they were not spiritual, but carnal. Now, as all Christians are spiritual in the sense in which that term is used in the preceding chapter, to say that men are not spiritual in that sense, would be to say they are not Christians. Here, however, the apostle tells those whom he admits to be Chris tians, and whom he calls brethren, that they are not spiritual. What a sad state! To think of Christians who ‘are com manded to “be filled with the Spirit” who live such carnal lives that Paul compares them to babes ! No wonder that an out sider might say, “ Christianity is a failure” ! If every Christian could and would “abide in Christ,” and thus bear the fruit of the Spirit which is “ love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance,” the world would have to acknowledge that believers have been with Jesus, and that there is a differ ence in their lives. Peter and John, by their boldness, amaz ed the rulers at Jerusalem, causing them to marvel, and Acts 4:13 says, “ They took knowledge o f them that they had been with Jesus.” Would that every Christian might have such holy boldness in the Spirit ! In the daily reading for Tuesday; we have the account of the rich young ruler who is called “an approver.” This is a sad story; our hearts ache for this young man whom Jesus loved, who acknowl edged the truth of Jesus’ statements, and who evidently admired Jesus, but was un willing to surrender. Hence, we see that approval isn’t sufficient. There must .be ac knowledgment and confession and per sonal acceptance o f Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Illustrations I. “ O ne T hing T hou L ackest ” Suppose a journeying man, willful and self-satisfied, came to one o f us and asked for employment. W e go to master me chanics, seeking work in his poverty. Each one in turn says he is well acquainted with the man, but will have nothing to do with him. Now we begin to expostulate, “Is he not skillful? Is he not industri ous? Is he not honest? Is he not sober?” “All this is true,” comes the reply, “but the man will not obey orders!” The prime quality o f a workman is gone; that lack vitiates all the rest; he breeds insubordination wherever he goes. His excellencies simply render him dan gerous. One thing he lacks, and that want ing, the rest are ruined.—R obinson . IL O ne R eason W hy C hristianity Is R ejected An Oriental farm migrant, when faced by a most unwise church visitor who as sured him that, after all, nothing which [Continued on page 340]
o f the poor felt she was specially theirs in death as in life; how ministers and mem bers of Parliament and half-starved chil dren of the slums were alike eager for a last look upon the face they loved. Roughs passed her weeping. Lost girls turned from her side and begged to be taken to some home where they could begin a new life. “That woman lived for me,” a poor drunkard -cried in anguish. They drew him aside; and down on his knees, he ac cepted pardon and promised that her God should be his. Three men knelt together one night at the head of the coffin and poured out their penitence to God and went out o f the hall saved. Another said, “ I’ve come sixty miles to see her again. She was the means of saving my two boys.” What a thrilling testimony to one who had the “qualities o f a Christian” ! Discussion Material I. Q uestions to D iscuss What is the most important mark o f a Christian ? How would you test your own Chris tianity ? Are some more Christian than others? H ow ? II. E xtract prom W ay ’ s T ranslation of R omans 12 “ Let there be no pretence about your love. Loathe all wickedness: wed yourself to goodness. In mutual love to the brethren be as members o f one family. Give respectful precedence to one another. In earnest endeavor be no laggards: your spirit should be fairly seething with en thusiasm while you are toiling as the Lord’s bondmen. Let your hope be some thing exultant; in affliction never flinch. In prayer be intensely in earnest. Share your wealth with necessitous believers. Be on the watch for opportunities for giving loving welcome to strangers.” III. S entence T houghts Love is not to be limited to the multi plication table.— S chaff . He is below himself that is not above an injury.—Q uarles . Pray for a short memory as to all un kindness.— S purgeon . “ Be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32). “ Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness o f mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (Phil. 2 :3 ). “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things o f others” (Phil. 2:4 ). IV. L et O thers S ee J esus in Y ou While passing through this world o f sin, And others your life shall view, Be clean and pure without, within, Let others see Jesus in you. Your life’s a book before their eyes, They’re reading it through and through; Say, does it point them to the skies, Do others see Jesus in you? What joy ’twill be at set of sufl, In mansions beyond the blue, To find some souls that you have w on ; Let others see Jesus in you.
Valuable Departments I have always enjoyed reading the fine sermons and daily readings. — C leveland , O hio . The notes you have on the Sun day-school lessons are the best of three or four magazines I have the privilege of using.-—K asson , M inn . Just one Sunday without the “ Blackboard Illustration” from T he K ing ’ s B usiness , and the Sunday- school quickly responds with an other year’s subscription. —T acoma , W ash . I don’t know what I should do if the monthly copy failed to reach me. Although I have little time for read ing, I make time to read T he K ing ’ s B usiness , especially enjoying the fulfillment o f prophecy. SlteKENTFIELD, CALIF. Let others see Jesus in you, Keep telling the story, be faithful and true, Let others see Jesus in you. —M c K inney . V. S ome D ay Some day of days! Some dawning yet to be, I shall be clothed with immortality! I groan, being burdened. But, in that glad day, I shall forget vexations o f the way. That needs were often great, when means were small, W ill not perplex me any more at all. A few short years at most (it may be less), I shall have done with earthly storm and stress. So, for this day, I lay me at Thy feet. O, keep me sweet, my Master! Keep me sweet. —F ay I nchfawn . AUGUST 28, 1932 W H Y DO SOME APPROVE OF CHRIST, BUT REJECT ORGAN IZED CHRISTIANITY? 1 C orinthians 3 :l-7 Suggestions for the Meeting Hymn—“ So Precious Is Jesus.” Hymn—“ Oh, the Best Friend to Have Is Jesus.” Scripture Lesson. Prayer. Testimonies (to the power of Christ in individual lives). Special Music. Five-minute Talks on the follow ing: Is Organized Christianity different from Christ ? How ? Has the church failed, since many re ject it? Wherein? How can we magnify Christ in our lives and thus keep reproach from the church ? Hymn— “The Church’s One Foundation Is Jesus Christ our Lord.” Benediction—Psalm 19:14.
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