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K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
December 1929
and indistinct, sometimes even crude. In a true sense “Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love divine, Love was born at Christmas, Stars and angels gave the sign.” The Incarnation is simply a great ob ject-lesson of God’s love. He loved be fore, but the Incarnation taught men that He loved, and how much He loved. A single grateful thought towards heaven is the most perfect prayer.— Lessing. Gratitude is a duty none can be excused from, because it is always at our own dis posal.— Charron. Did you ever think of the reason why the Psalms of David have come, like winged angels, down across all the realms and ages—why they make the key-note of grateful piety in every Christian’s soul, wherever he lives? Why? Because they are so full of gratitude. “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his good ness and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” — A. A. Willets. There comes a letter to a maiden in her father’s dwelling; and, on opening it, she finds simply a little sprig of forget-me- not. It has come from a great distance. She knows who sent it. To him she has given all that she has to give of life and love: and in him her whole future is bound up. There is nothing in it but a bit of paper, and this little sprig of dry forget-me-not. That is all, and that is enough. If I can pluck the smallest leaf, if I can lift up and send before Christ the poorest creature that lives, as a love- token, He will know it; I know that He will know it; and great is my happiness that I am able thus to show my love for Him. Every year we make gifts to our friends at Christmas time. Every year thousands of dollars are spent for this purpose. Every year many costly gifts, representing in some cases much love, are given. But the most costly gift ever given, and the one showing the most love, was given on the night when the angels sang. It was God’s great gift to the world, and it is still being given to each one who desires it. “For unto you,” unto me, unto each of us, is born a Saviour. This is one priceless gift that you may be sure to have. A little Jewish girl from the East Side of New York, who secured work in a store during the holiday season, met with an accident, and was ministered to in her sufferings, by a trained nurse. She looked appealingly into thé face of the nurse, and asked incredulously, “Is it true that you are a Christian ?” Upon being an swered in the affirmative, she replied, “You are so polite and gentle, I didn’t think you could be ; but then the only Christians I’ve seen are Christmas shop pers.”— C. E. World. “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is
Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11).—An ac quaintance of the late Mrs. A----- , whose charities were as secret as they were wide, spoke once of her habit of sending her carriage out with friends who were ill, or not able to afford the luxury of a drive. “She did not send the carriage,” quickly remarked a friend. “She went in it. The drive was not an alms. It was a pleasure to herself, which the invalid made pleasanter by sharing.” Jesus did not send His love; he brought it. A nobleman, having been concerned in conspiracy, was compelled to hide him self. His wife was asked where he was, and she answered, “I have hidden him.” This confession led to her being brought before King Charles II., who immediately demanded, “Where is he?” telling her that nothing but her discovery of his whereabouts could save her from the torture. “And will that do ?” she in quired. “Yes,” replied the king, “I’ll give my word for it.” “Then,” said she, “I have hidden him in my heart; there and there alone you’ll find him.” Can you answer concerning Christ: “Where is He f" (Matt. 2:2; Eph. 3:17). ■ o— December IS, 1929 What Have Young People to Give? 2 Cor. 8:1-15 D aily R eadings Dec. 9. Time. Col. 4:5. Dec. 10. Labor. Matt. 25:14-21. Dec. 11. Clothing. Acts 9:36-39. Dec. 12. Money. Mark 12:41-44. Dec. 13. Service. Exod. 35:30-35. Dec. 14. Possessions. Acts 4:32-37. —o— C hoice N uggets Give the world the best you have, And the best will come back to you. Give love, and love to your life will flow, A strength in your utmost need; Have faith, and a score: of hearts will show Their faith in your word and deed. Give truth, and your gifts will be paid in kind, And honor will honor meet; And a smile that is sweet will surely find A smile that is just as sweet. —Madeline S. Bridges. A rich youth in Rome had suffered from a dangerous illness. On recovering his health, his heart was filled with grati tude and he exclaimed: “O Thou all- sufficient Creator! could man recompense Thee, how willingly would I give Thee all my possessions!” Hermas the herds man heard this, and said to the youth: “All good gifts come from above; thither thou canst send nothing. Come, follow me.” He took him to a hut where was nothing but misery and wretchedness. The father lay on a bed of sickness; the mother wept; the children were destitute of clothing, and crying for bread. Her mas said, “See here an altar for the sacrifice; see here the Lord’s brethren and representatives.” The youth as sisted them bountifully, and the poor people called him an angel of God. HerT mas smiled, and said, “Thus turn always.
What a window is to a room, ofttimes an illustration is to. a message. It sheds light. In the field of helps for the leader o f a C. E. meeting, there appears to be an ample supply of good suggestions on how to conduct the meeting, but a great dearth o f pointed illustrations on the topic for the evening. The editor o f this department there fore seeks in these pages from month to month to give the leader carefully selected illustrations on the topic and daily read ings. These may be used by the leader in his talk, or cut out, numbered and handed to different members to read when called for. —0— December 8 , 1929 What is Back of Our Christmas Giving? D aily R eadings Dec. 2. Attitude to Jesus. Matt. 2 :11. Dec. 3. Gratitude. Rom. 12:1. Dec. 4. Human Need. Matt. 6:1-4. Dec. 5. Brotherliness. 1 John 4:7-11. Dec. 6 . Happiness. Acts 20:35. Dec. 7. Unselfishness. Phil. 2:4, S. C hoice N uggets Forever the sun is pouring its gold On a thousand worlds that beg and bor row ; His warmth he squanders on summits cold, His wealth on the mass of want and sorrow; To withhold his largess of precious light Is to bury himself in eternal light. To give is to live. It is impossible to give my little girl a box of candy. She immediately runs around the household, and shares it with everybody. The spirit of sharing is the spirit of Christmas. It is said that John G. Paton had a profit of $70,000 coming to him in royal ties on his biography. He gave it all to the missionary society, and said, “Pass on the bread of life to my brethren in the South Seas.” Christ is the Christmas giver. Many of the richest and sweetest joys human hearts can experience were born into the world when Christ was born. Let us name a few from among the many. One is the joy of knowing the nature of God. Christ was Immanuel—God with u s; so near that we could see and under stand and know Him. Before the coming of Christ, men’s ideas of God were hazy
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