ÎHÉ K l N è ' S BUS I N ÉS S
November, IT936
43S
N O T E S on Christian End eavor By MARY G. GOODNER
DECEMBER 6, 1936 PLANNING MY CHRISTMAS GIVING P roverbs 19:17 .'Meditation on the Lesson Christmas is either a time of great joy and blessing to us, or else it is what the world makes it, an ostentatious display, a mercenary giving and receiving. In the luster of tinsel, wreaths, trees, and ribbons, the significance of the day is almost for gotten. One who stops to meditate for only, a moment, however, is brought face to face with the Unspeakable Gift, the Son of God, our Saviour Jesus Christ, even in the midst of the festivities. It is He who has made the day for us by His birth, and if we are consistent Christians, He should be the cen ter of our thought. Gifts are a pleasure to see, to receive, to buy, and to give. They should be prompted from a heart of love, the outward expres sion of an inward devotion. A gift should not be given with a reciprocal thought or basis in mind, for a gift is free. God set for us an age-lasting example of giving. He gave freely of Himself, giving an “un speakable gift” which can never be recipro cated. He gave His only Son, not to give us a moral philosophy superseding all oth ers, not to show us the error of our way, not to live a perfect life before us—though Christ has done all these things—but God sent His Son for one purpose—to save us from the pain of everlasting destruction and eternal separation from Himself. When we consider the Lord Jesus’ coming from the riches of glory, humbling Himself to take a place of no reputation, and limit ing His omnipotence by taking on Himself the form of earthly man, we must say: “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15). Christmas is a time for giving. Let us consider the occasion with three aspects in mind: first, our relation to God; second, our relation to others, and third, our rela tion to ourselves. Our relationship to God should be as definite as that which we have with our dearest loved ones. Not from a sense of duty or necessity should we give unto God, but from a heart of gratitude and love should come our gift. God rejoices in a life given, surrendered for His use. Paul besought the brethren, by the mercies of God, that they would present their bodies a living sacrifice unto God (cf. Rom. 12:1). May we at this season give that gift unto our Lord with the yieldedness and willing ness within to spend and be spent. When we have done this, we shall rejoice in the knowledge that “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Our relation to others should be one of gracious, loving kindness rather than one of obligation and duty. Our giving should be motivated by the thought of what it will do for others, even as God, beholding our
need, gave out of His grace more than we deserve. Luke 10:30-37 gives us the ac count of the Good Samaritan’s gracious ministration to a needy one. Through the grace of God, we can become that kind of givers. In 2 Corinthians 9:8 we are re minded that “God is able to make all grace abound” in us in order that we might have the joy of giving—that we might “abound to every good work.” Lastly, giving does something for us, in dividually. We are told that “the liberal soul shall be made fat” (Prov. 11:25)— shall enjoy spiritual enrichment. God will not overlook the gift or the giver, for His Word declares: “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay again” (Prov. 19:17),: He who gives as unto the Lord shall surely be rewarded, for the promise is unfailing: “Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over” (Lk. 6:38). . Helps for the Leader I. How G od C ares for T hose W ho G iv e . In 1 Kings 17 we have an illustration of God’s care for those who give. The prophet Elijah asked a widow of Zarephath to give him something to eat and drink. When Elijah was informed concerning her pov erty he answered, “Make me . . . a little cake first.” Then he gave her a promise from God assuring her of material security. She possessed only a little meal and oil, yet God promised that it should last until rain should come again. The sacred Word re cords that “the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord” (1 Ki. 17:16). She gave as God had asked, and He repaid her manyfold. Were we only more willing to trust God and to give as He commands, He would show us “great and mighty things,” which we know not.—D. R. G. II. G od G ives God gives a joy that we may give, He gives us love that we may share; Sometimes He gives us loads to lift That we may learn to bear. For life is gladder when we give, And love is sweeter when we share, And heavy loads rest lightly, too, When we have learned to bear. It is not always money that people most need. Words of sympathy and cheer often do more than money , or medicine to help the needy. To place one in a position to help himself is generally of more benefit than to help him with money. As we learn how best to help one another, we are able to give that which means far more than money. — S elected . III. O t h er G ifts T h a n M oney
There are many kinds of poverty. Few of us but are poor in some way. Jesus said truly, “For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good.” Sometimes those rich in money have most need of such gifts as we may all bestow if our lives are cheerful, hopeful ones.—New Century Leader. DECEMBER 13, 1936 MY APPRECIATION OF THE JEW One’s “appreciation of the Jew” will de pend largely on the individual’s under standing of the place of the Jew in the plan of God, Not because of personal or national superiority, but because God, in His sovereignty, chose a leader and a peo ple with whom He could enter into cove nant relationship, Abraham and his de scendants became the recipients of specific promises of future blessing. From genera tion to generation, the hope of the fulfill ment of these promises burned in the heart of every loyal Hebrew. (See Zacharias’ exultation in Luke 1:68 to 79.) Moreover, God’s Son, born of a virgin, was “of the seed of David.” Whoever loves the Lord Jesus Christ deeply will have an affection also for the race through which it pleased God to allow the Saviour to be born. The sense of wonder and gratitude increases as one contemplates the fact that the One who^was made flesh, and dwelt among us” was God’s Son from the begin ning, preexistent, and eternal. Because “God so loved . . . he gave his only begot ten Son,” and the Son was born a “child.” Isaiah’s vision of this “Wonderful” One is telescopic (Isa. 9:6), for it reveals the beginning before time was, and shows the ceasing o£ time and the beginning of eternity. “Wonderful,” one of the names of this coming Ruler, means full of wonder. In His walk among us as the Saviour, how His name was fulfilled! “All bare him witness and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth” (Lk. 4:22; cf. John 7:46). His words were wonderful. “And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; . . . And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; . . . And they were astonished with a great astonishment” (Mk. 5:41, 42; cf. Lk. 4:37). He was wonderful in deeds. “His name shall be called . . . Coun selor.” He is the One from whom all au thority, counsel, and advice emanate. What a wealth He gave while on earth; what an abundance He gives through the Spirit today! He is “the way, the truth, and the life.’” He is “the mighty God”—strong and full of power. “If God be for us, who can be against us ?” He is “the everlasting Father,” of whom David exulted: “From I saiah 9:6; L u k e 1:68-79 Meditation on the Lesson
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs