King's Business - 1931-02

52

February 1931

T h e

K i n g ’ s

B u s i n e s s

no longer range abroad at will, God could make use of whatever energy and influence and experience he might possess for the furtherance of the cause of Him whom he loved. He was content because his mind was stayed on the Lord. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Take a man of Paul’s energy and resolute temper and aggressiveness of purpose, but one who yet lacks the fill­ ing of the Spirit and intelligent and unfaltering trust in God, and shut him up in a prison and say to him that all his most .cherished plans and aims must be given up, and he will rage and storm like a caged lion. He will dash his head against the bars of the jail that holds him. There was nothing of this spirit in Paul. His weary limbs were bound in chains. He was advanced in life, worn and feeble in body. Circumstances seemed all to be pointed with affliction. There were apparently a hundred things to vex him to one to give him consolation. It is hard to think of a position more likely to take all the heart out of one and make him restless and possibly bit­ ter than was the position of Paul when he rolled out the words: “I have learned to be content.” A great many people know how to sow and to reap and to gather into barns, but they do not know how to be contented with their harvest. They know how to toil with their might, how to plan, how to organize success­ fully and work up to wealth and place and power, but they do not know how to walk in the serenity of well poised and unburdened souls. They know how to build houses and to lay their floors ankle deep in velvety softness, to tax up­ holsterers to the utmost that room may vie with room in dainty or dazzling elegance, to hang their walls with the rarest pictures money can buy. But, after they have got their houses built and furnished, they do not know how to settle back into them and get any satisfaction out of them. They have all that architects and artists and decorators and weavers and cabinet makers can do for them, but still they are without the choice blessing of contentment. What is the secret of such a life? “I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.” Christ has the strength to impart to men to make them sufficient both for their duties and their burdens, and He both knows how and is willing to impart this strength. Who­ ever trusts Him, whoever loves Him, whoever obeys Him, whoever is in a condition to say, “For me to live is Christ” is open to this strength. Christ strengthens us by delivering our souls from that sense of guilt which is the most weakening element in our nature, by quicken­ ing and illuminating our mental faculties, by filling our minds with the great hope of a blessed immortality, by the inner girding of His Spirit, and by bringing us more and more under the power and into the fellowship of spiritual realities. God help us to take just what He, in answer to our wisest plannings and industry and prayers, sees good to send us; and let us rest in it rather than worry our own souls and make the world about us miserable with our discontent. How much better it is to submit uncomplain­ ingly to our misfortunes and chastisements in the sublime confidence that God does make all things to work togeth­ er for good to those that love Him, than it is to whine about how hard the way is made for us and to burden the air with our ungracious wailings.

Our Financial Condition Of course we are having financial problems at the In­ stitute. We do not know of any Christian institution not having special problems these days in connection with its finances. But we are far from being discouraged, because we are determined to live within our means and the Lord is greatly blessing us. We are opposed to the borrowing of money for running expenses. We have had to cut salaries and wages. We have had to dispense with the services of some members of our splendid facul­ ty. It is most difficult to do this, but we will do it until we can do better. We are holding our fine student body. We are giving them splendid training. The remaining teachers, with some strong men from the outside who will donate their services, will carry on, and our Bible Institute will be up to par in every respect. Our friends need have no fear. God is answering prayer. The Institute is safe, but we need money. We need it now. If each subscriber to T h e K ing ’ s B usiness would sign the Biola Honor Roll and begin at once to pay one dollar per month, we would have no thought of ever mak­ ing any curtailments in our program. Read carefully the Biola Honor Roll pledge and ask God about it. To help us prepare men and women to preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Become a member of this great. Roll of Honor. The conditions of membership are— First: To pray daily for God’s blessing upon the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. Second: To give One Dollar each month for one year toward the support of the work. Third: To secure another Honor Roll member, if possible. Firmly believing in the importance of training Chris.- tian workers, I hereby request that my name be placed upon the Biola Honor Roll, and I express my willingness to cheerfully and faithfully meet the conditions of mem­ bership. Name ........................................... ....'............ A.i;ALLA Street No.............................. „............ ..... '........................ ___ C ity....................................................... .......... :....... ........ Amount enclosed.............1.................. '.............. Date.......I....... i ...... .................... ............ . Wanted: 20,000 Christians For Biola Honor Roll

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