the Resurrection, understanding that Christ has fulfilled all the symbolism of the Old Testament in Himself. The sign of the sabbath was no longer needed because the reality—the thing signified by the sign—namely, eternal spiritual rest, had been ushered in. It is true that Christians also maintained their syn agogue sabbath worship for a time fol lowing the resurrection and ascension of Christ. But very rapidly these Christians saw the truth that the Old Testament economy was passing away and a new age had been ushered in. With increasing rapidity the Christians of the first century forsook the syna gogue and the Hebrew sabbath and the Christian sabbath—the first day of the week—fittingly took its place. Acts 20:7 indicates that the custom of worshiping on the first day of the week was firmly established even by this early date. Once more, let the Christians observe that the Apostle solemnly denounced the observance of any day as binding upon believers for salvation (Col. 2:16, 17). The Christian ought to recognize the Lord’s Day for worship, for service and for rest, but he is not to consider his observance of that day as connected in any way with salvation. T.he Bible is a very practical book, the most practical book in the world. We are not surprised, therefore, to dis cover that the Bible has a great deal to say about money, which is a very prac tical subject. The two passages of Scrip ture making up the text for this lesson are among the most important Scrip tures in their teaching about the Chris tian’s attitude toward money and the use he makes of it. God Is Greatly Interested in His People’s Money It is God’s complaint in Malachi 3 that His people were stingy with Him. When our Lord visited Jerusalem one time He “stood over against the trea sury” (Mark 12:41-44)—why? Be cause He is interested in how His people give. God is interested in the way His people give becatise their giving is in dicative of the state of their soul. The man who is spiritually healthy is gen erous with God. He is also generous with himself in the service of God and men. A gentleman in Boston, an inti mate friend of the great Professor Agassiz, once expressed his wonder that a man of such abilities as Agassiz pos sessed should remain contented with such a moderate income. “ I have enough,” the eminent scholar replied. “ I have not time to make money. Life JUNE, 1 9 5 2 July 27, 1952 MONEY IS SPIRITUAL POWER Mai. 3:8-10; Mark 12:41-44
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is not sufficiently long to enable a man to get rich, and do his duty to his fel low-men at the same time.” God is concerned about His people’s giving because the measure of their giv ing is the measure o f their love. The man who gives largely loves largely (Luke 7:41-47). The stingy soul is the small soul to whom love is impossible. This does not mean that love is meas ured altogether by the amount a man gives, but by the sacrifice involved in that gift. The rich man can give gen erously without ever feeling it. The poor man will give far less, but it may have cost him far more (Mark 12:41-44). Again, God is interested in His people’s money because He has limited Himself to their generosity. This sounds strange at first, but it becomes under standable when we realize that He has taken the Christian into partnership with Himself (2 Cor. 6:1). Malachi teaches us the same truth in 3:8, 9. Here God makes a very pointed accu sation, “ Ye have robbed me . . . in tithes and offerings.” The work of God had nearly crumpled in Malachi’s day. There was much to be done and little with which to do it. The spiritual life of the people had reached a low ebb, and as a consequence they forgot to bring their tithes and offerings into God’s store house. One other reason for God’s interest in His people’s money is this: money has a definite moral implication. God speaks of His people in Malachi as rob bers. This is a serious indictment. The Christian must remember that he is ob ligated to share with God in His work. This is a moral obligation. It should be recognized as such by each believer. Martin Luther used to say that each man needed a three-fold conversion : that of his heart, of his head, and of his pocketbook. If a man’s pocketbook has not been converted he stands in danger of becoming a thief—and, hor rible thought—a theif from God! The giving o f money is a discipline. Gener osity proves that we think more of God and of others than we do of ourselves. A man’s giving indicates the extent into which he has entered the passion of our Lord that the whole world may hear the gospel. Giving is also a grace (2 Cor. 8-7). The man who gives out of love for Christ has reached considerable stature in his development in the “ grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). God Has Established His Rule Regarding the Amount of Money His People Should Give Him In Malachi God charges His people with the sin of withholding His tenth, and other offerings over and above the tenth. The Old Testament rule for giv ing was the tithe, or tenth. The New Testament does not mention the tithe.
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