November 1930
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
539
SNotes on Qhristian ßndeavor
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Bij Alan S. Pearce
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December 7, 1930 The Best Christmas Gifts 2 Cor. 8:1-5 (Consecration Meeting) T h o u g h t s on t h e T opic
In a Bible training-school in Japan, a Japanese teacher offered to give half of the sum needed to support a member of the graduating class, so that this one might give her time to Christian work among her own people. The teacher’s salary was about fifteen dollars a month, and one-third of it was given to her mother. The sum she pledged was one- sixth of what she received. On being asked whether it would not be hard to do so much, she answered, “I want it to be hard.” She wished to do for Christ some thing that would cost real self-denial. — A. W. Kelly. An imaginative, story is told of a shep herd boy in the Alps, who, while tending his sheep, saw a strange flower at his feet. He picked it up, and as he did so, a door opened in the hillside. He entered and found a cave piled high with gems. In the center of the cave sat a gnome who said, “Take what you wish, but don’t forget the best.” The lad dropped his flower and loaded himself with jewels. When he went out, the gnome warned him again, “Don’t forget the best.” When he was once more in the open air, he remem bered his “key-flower” and turned back to pick it up; but the door was gone, and in a moment all his gems had turned to dust. He had forgotten the best, after all. The lesson is plain— take what you want and can o f earth’s treasures, but don’t forget the best, the Lord Jesus Christ. — o— December 14, 1930 Making Others Happy Eph. 4:31, 32; 5:1, 2 T h o u g h t s o n t h e T opic True happiness depends upon a right re lation to Jesus Christ. There can be no joy in the life while sin is harbored in the heart. But even after the Lord Jesus is accepted as Saviour, the full measure of joy will be lacking if the Holy Spirit is being grieved (4 :30 ). -We may grieve the Spirit of God by refusing to give to the Lord Jesus the complete control of our lives. He must have possession of the throne room of the heart When this sur render is made, instead of hatred there will be kindness; instead of anger and wrath, there will. be tenderness; instead of malice, there will be forgiveness ( 4 :31- 32), and “the joy of the Lord” will flood
the heart and life. This joy will abide and aboUnd as the Christian continues to be a “follower” of the Lord Jesus (5: 1). The word in the Revised Version is trans lated “imitators.” That is,, in our daily contact with others we are to speak and act in the spirit of Christ. The whole of chapter four, from which only a few verses are taken for our lesson, concerns .the Christian’s walk. True happiness will not only affect for good one’s own life, but it will radiate blessing to others. Writing on this point, Dr. R. A . Torrey defines love as “a desire for and a delight in the welfare of an other” (cf. Matt. 5:43-47; 1 John 3:14, 16, 17). Some one has said, “Happiness is a perfume that you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself.” Making others happy in a world of sor row, disappointment, and sin is one of the most profitable of occupations. It yields the greatest returns for the amount in vested. “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (A c ts'/2 0 :3 5 ). Have you proved, it? * * * S ide L ig h t s A rich Boston woman was taken very unwillingly one day to see a poor widow who was sick. The rich woman was shocked. She did not care for the widow, but she did not like to see suffering. So she said, “I shall order the charity organi zation to come and help you.” But the widow spoke up, “Thank you, ma’am, but although I am poor, I cannot take charity.” “But,” said the rich woman, “you have just told me that your neighbors help you; you take things from them.” “Yes, but that is not charity. They are friends. They care. ,They know that if they needed help I would do the same for them.” This woman, poor as she was, measured giving by the heart of the giver. Gifts from a loving heart were welcome; from a cold heart they meant nothing. Jesus, also, measured the gift by the heart.— Rev. R. P. Anderson. Dr. Torrey once said: “I am constantly meeting people who are looking for a personal blessing—an ecstasy, a rapture, a shout; they want to be so happy that they will not know what to do. They are look ing for a happiness that terminates with themselves, but they will never get it.” If thou seekest happiness for thyself alone, thou dost seek in vain; but if thou seekest it to impart to others, it will hasten to wards thee with outstretched arms.— I. Q. Moulton. A man had been asked why he invari ably followed a well-known man into the most uncomfortable situations, and he re plied: “All the years I have known So- and-so, I’ve never known him to say whether he was cold or hot, wet or dry, sick or well; but I’ve never known him to forget a man who was.” — Rudyard Kipling.
The best Christmas gift that this world has ever received or ever can receive is Jesus Christ, the Saviour. It is a sad fact that the one whose advent we commemor ate at this happy season of the year is completely forgotten by many young peo ple. They seek and cherish lesser Christ mas gifts and forget that which God has given. The best gift that any Endeavorer can receive is salvation, and the best gift he can give is the offering o f his or her life to the Lord Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him, should not perish, but have eternal life.” In the gift of Christ to a lost world God’s love is manifested. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Our lesson today, however, deals with the subject of Christian giving. The church at Macedonia excelled in this grace. If we, likewise, are to live the full-orbed Christian life that God expects from us, this grace must not be neglected. Giving will become a joyful exercise if we follow the example of the Macedonian Christians who “first gave their own selves to the Lord.” That which we have to give to God is, after all, only that which He, in His mercy, has already given to us. W e are stewards and not owners. A little girl was once heard to remark that she was going to give her father a pair of slippers for Christmas. “Where will you get the money to buy them?” she was asked. In surprise she replied, “Why, daddy will give it to me!” That is the attitude that God wants us to take. W e are to give to Him, not only at the Christmas season but throughout our lives, all that belongs to Him as our heavenly Father. Read prayerfully the opening verses of the twelfth chapter of Romans in connec tion with today’s lesson. ^ ^ ^ S ide L ig h ts A brother, going to spend a day in a large city, said to his invalid sister, “Can I buy anything for you, dear?” “Nothing, dear; don’t bring anything, I want only you. Come home as soon as you can.” All that day her words rang in his ears, “ I want only you." My friend, have you sometimes wanted to give to the Father prayers, tears, •money, and ,service ? His yearning call to you is this: “I want only you.” Consecrate yourself to Him, give Him all the love of your heart, and then your glad service, your earnest devotion, and your fervent prayers will be accept able as evidence of a loving heart that is all Fils.—Sunday School Chronicle.
Needed in Every Household I am sending payment for three yearly subscriptions to T h e K in g ’ s B u s in e s s . The1 magazine should be in every household. —From Boston, Mass.
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