THE KING’ S. BUSINESS
255
PERTINENT ILLUSTRATIONS By W .
H. Pike. little boy o f this lesson has taught all Christian workers and all philanthropists, from that day to this, how to feed the crowd. Give what you have to Jesus Christ, as he did, and see hoir He will mul tiply it to the multitude. A weak, frail, young lady in central New York wished to do something for the needy in China. The church boards would not send her because o f her health. She trusted God for money and strength, went to Shanghai, began gathering the orphan children, fallen and downtrodden girls together. She then taught them and provided a home for them, then she provided Work. She went on with her work and labor o f love until the civic authorities recognized her. Before her death she had earned the title o f “ Cornelia Bon- nell, the'White Angel o f Shanghai.” She gave what she had to Jesus and He mul tiplied it., When she died she had several orphan-homes and work-homes for girls, besides her school. Jesus’ Method in giving.—He asked God’s blessing upon what He gave. Prayer in connection with giving, does two things at least—first, in prayer we get guidance as to where to give; and second, it makes the money go farther in blessing others. God can even multiply what we give, in answer to prayer. Two working-girls gave some o f their earnings to help found a new mis sionary station in Korea. They prayed for the work and asked God to bless their offer ing. Through this station, a native was 'converted who evangelized that entire sec tion and led hundreds to Christ. Jesus’ Conservation. —Though He was the Lord o f heaven and earth, and though the cattle upon a thousand hills are His, yet he allows nothing to go to waste. It is a law- o f His universe that nothing be wasted. Jesus here condemns extravagance. Think o f people giving banquets that cost from $10,000 to $40,000; and men have bought shoes at $500 a pair. Unnecessary extravagance is wicked when so many are starving in different parts o f the‘ world.
T IFE is misery to the people who think only o f themselves and who do not minister to others, Jesus' compassion fo r the crowd. —Jesus’ intense love for the multitude led Him to give Himself constantly in service for them. John G. Paton, the great missionary to the New Hebrides, the last time he visited this country, spoke in Western Ohio to a :company o f ministers. At the close o f the meeting a cab took Dr. Paton and three other ministers to their places o f entertain ment. It was snowing and blowing fiercely and when Dr. Paton stepped from the cab he put his hand on the shoulder o f the cabman and said, “ Have you given your life to the Lord Jesus Christ?” What an example o f love for souls. This old white- haired patriarch, who had literally trans formed the Cannibal Islands o f the New Hebredes from savagedom to Christian ity, stands in a blinding snowstorm in Christian America (so-called) talking to a cabman about his soul. What a life of compassion. Jesus’ Estimate o f the crowdsArSheep .not having a shepherd. So often we think the multitude is all right. But oh, the lonely, needy souls in a crowd; some hearts break ing with sorrow, some fearful o f coming failure or disease, some discouraged; some rebellious, revengeful, jealous, . lustful. Every individual in a crowd has its own history. There is a need in every life. A man came out o f Chicago’s crowd one day and walked along the lakeshore. A Christian worker noticed his sad expres sion and engaged him in conversation.. He gained his confidence sufficiently that the man opened his heart to him. He waS planning to take poison and cast himself into Lake Michigan. He was pointed .to Christ and saved from this awful act. How little we know the need o f the crowd. Jesus’ Provision fo r the crowd. —“ Give ye them to eat.” The disciples said send them aw ay/bu t Jesus said, “ feed them.” The
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs