Taking G od Into Business
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many types of appeals. Christian businessmen should distinguish between the appeals of so-called Christian organizations, but which actually are merely religious, and those appeals which represent a definite Christ- honoring program. Such discernment on the part of those who love the Lord and who seek to serve Him will eliminate a great deal of giving to modernistic denominational missions, modernistic denominational schools and other modernistic enterprises which op erate under the guise of Christianity but which ac tually deny the truths held near and dear to the hearts of all true believers. 3. Christian businessmen would do well, further more, in their giving to evangelical Christian causes, to consider the proportion of their donations which they give to those types of appeals which are made merely to perpetuate an individual’s work, and those types of appeals which represent a time-tested organ ization with a wide-range of service and influence and which have the stamp of the Lord’s approval upon them through the years of sustained vital Chris tian work. 4. Giving is so often merely on the basis of an emotional appeal. An individual with a heart-tugging voice and with a story that stirs the emotions will oftentimes obtain a much larger contribution than the work which he represents would merit. The emotions have their place in our Christian conduct and thinking, but certainly one’s giving should be based upon true values and not on momentary emo tional stimulation. The secular business world is giving a great deal of prominence to the problem of financial aid to higher education. Imposing headlines such as “ Our Colleges and Universities Face Grave Financial Prob lems,” and “What Business Can do to Help Our Colleges and Universities,” pin-point the common problems faced today by all private institutions of higher learning. There is a definite blind spot in the minds of many Christians in connection with their giving. Much is made of the need of proper program and facilities in the local church in behalf of children and young people through the high school years. This is most vital. Much also is made of gifts in behalf of Christian work which is being carried on in other lands. And this is most vital. But, there is compara tively little said and done in behalf of the post-high, school training that is necessary to equip these young people for lives of service, either at home or abroad. Christian businessmen would do well to give in order that the Christian schools which are the fountain heads of Christian service might not be dried up but that instead there might be an ever-increasing flow of young people well qualified, both spiritually and aca demically, to meet the needs of the world today both at home and abroad. END.
Tribute to Businessm en I n a world that is filled with international, national, ■local and personal graft and corruption in so many thigh places, it is refreshing to be able to pay trib ute to those who come face to face with such nefar ious conduct and attitudes and yet who maintain their business and personal integrity. Evidence clear ly reveals that it is extremely difficult, today, to make “ an honest living” ; but there are thousands of businessmen who are living testimonies to the fact that it can be done. All honor to all such. If there ever was a time when a Christian, be he in business, in the home, in the ministry or in any other type of work, needed to lean heavily upon the Lord in prayer for divine guidance, now is the time. Testimonies of the Lord’s people around the world reveal the wonderful way in which the Lord leads and sustains. It is “not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord.” We need to pray for ourselves, and especially for one another, that the pit- falls of the devil’s world do not engulf us but that we might be living epistles “ known and read of all men,” testifying to the glorious truth that it pays to serve the Lord every step of the way. Some General Rules T he average Christian businessman, and this in cludes all who are identified as either employer or employee in the business world, is confronted today with a flood of requests for financial aid in behalf of every conceivable type of benevolent organization. Some of these requests must be heeded merely for good business reasons. Other requests are gladly heeded because of the complete worth-whileness of the organization involved. There are, I believe, cer tain general rules which might be of help in de termining where to grant financial aid: 1. Christian organizations must depend entirely upon Christian givers for their support. It is impos sible, for instance, for a Christian school to obtain help through the Community Chest or other secular fund-raising groups. Such are entirely worthy causes, but they represent the interests of the people at large and the general public will give to such types of work. 2. Under the guise of Christianity, there are
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TH E K IN G 'S BU SINESS
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