THE K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S inspiration and consolation to those around him. Those who will not hear the Gospel preached a t least can see it lived. THURSDAY, May 26. Rom. 13:8-14. Love th e Universal Solvent. Abou ben Adam is an anachronism and an absurdity. He is un scriptural and impossible. He never had a trib e -to increase or decrease because he never had an existence. If a man loves God he will love his fellowman. He cannot otherwise. He must recognize God as C reator and man as creatu re before he can fulfil the obligation of pure benevo lence in regard to either. Love is not sentim ent or emotion. It is an a ttitu d e of the will and a governing disposition of th e mind. I t recognizes capacity for well-being and co-ordinates obligation to the measure of th is capacity. We are bound to fu rth e r th e good to th e utmost to the extent of ability and opportunity. We love our neighbor as ourselves be cause in the scale of welfare his capa city is the equal of our own. God is an infinite Being and w orthy of infinite love. Love is th e fulfilling of th e law. FRIDAY, May 27. Luke 15:1-10. A Neighborhood Call. When the shepherd found his lost sheep and the woman her m issing coin, each one summoned th e neighborhood to share the joy ' th a t th e successful quest created. When th e cup runn eth over, those n earest the cup are th e first to receive its contents. It is a duty and privilege to share th e joys of life w ith those around us. It is n atu ra l to seek encouragem ent and consolation from such in times of tria l and sorrow. We ought not to share our burdens and refuse to share our blessings. Our bu r dens are dim inished and our blessings increased by division and distribution. It is always a delight to be the bearer of good news. -Since th e Gospel is “ good news” , it is a joy to proclaim it. It should not be considered a “ cross” to carry th e Gospel to those in our imme diate vicinity. SATURDAY, May. 28. Luke 10:25-37. A Neighborly Spirit. In ancient times it was assumed th a t , a strang er was an enemy. He was viewed w ith suspicion and treated w ith enm ity. Christianity has tau g h t us th a t th is is a g ratu itou s assumption. The Gospel is “ good-will to men.” Racial prejudice dies hard. It is fostered and
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life. P roxim ity begets responsibility. The Gospel promotes unselfishness, good-will tow ard others, th e abolition of caste and care for th e needy and help less. The C hristian church is a b ro th er hood. Every member is to be filial to w ard God and fra tern al to his fellow- man. Neighbor is literally nigh-bor. The man th a t needs me is nearest to me though he live a t th e antipodes, The m istake of socialism is its failu re to recognize th a t hum an life is individual ized by its inequality. No two men are alike, physically or mentally. “My streng th is not my own. It belongs to the w eakest of th e hum an fam ily th a t may be groaning under oppression. My invisible guest may be a hungry child on th e o ther side of the world.” TUESDAY, May 24. P salm 1:1-6. A Neighborhood Blessing. A godly man is an unconscious pro tection to an ungodly man. The mere accident of contiguity may be sufficient to preserve both life and property. A grain of Wheat and a grain of chaff may be lying side by side. The chaff is safe so long as th e wheat is there. As soon as th e w heat is removed th e chaff is in danger of the fire. Matt. 3 :1 2 .' A Christian man may liye in a city block. He may be th e only Christian in the block. His ungodly neighbors may mis understand him and ostracize him and even persecute him. Did they bu t know it, his presence in th e neighborhood is th eir insurance against disaster. God could do nothing to Sodom while Lot was there. Gen. 19:22. W hat is tru e of a neighborhood is tru e of the world. Judgm ent will not fall until th e church has been translated. WEDNESDAY, May 25. Matt. 5:13-20. The Pervasive Influence of a Christian. John Wesley said th a t when a man became a C hristian his dog and cat would find it out. Sometimes before a man is saved, the domestic pets run from him. A fter he is saved they run to him. They know th e difference. Salt not only savors b u t preserves. Contact is necessary for conservation. Salt will not keep meat from spoiling if th e meat is in the cellar and th e sa lt in th e attic. Therefore monasticism is a m istake. John 17:15. If a man is a Christian, his Christianity will produce an effect upon his environment. I t is a tangible asset in th e community welfare. I t is not taxable b u t is something to th ank God for. Such an one is a source of
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