November, 1940
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
404
Around the King s Table E D I T O R I A L
out regard to circumstances. Incarcer ated in Philippi, he “prayed, and sang praises unto God” (Acts 16:25). Ordi narily men do not so behave under like circumstances. Unjustly behind bars, his pain-racked body enduring the add ed discomfort of stocks, Paul sang. His thanksgiving rose not from earthly cir cumstances, for they were dark and forboding. He sang out of an appro priation of things “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard”—things that never en ter the heart of the ordinary man—"the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Cor. 2:9). Blessed with “all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ,” any man anywhere can praise God at all times. What a sorrowful season this would be for the believers of Europe today, were these things not true! "In everything give thanks.” Evidence that God was glorified in the praise of the imprisoned apostle is seen in the unspeakable work of grace wrought in the hearts of the jailer and his family. We read (Acts 16:33, 34) that he “was baptized, he and all his, straightway .. . . . and he rejoiced, be lieving in God with all his house.” Such were the results .of his falling at the feet of the singing prisoner with the question, “What must I do to be saved?” “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”—Ransom D. Marvin. [Th e writer of this brief study is. a Baptist pastor in Los Angeles, a grad uate of Biola in 1935, and the artist whose drawings beautify THE KING 'S B USINESS.— E d it o r .] Increased Responsibility On September 9, the Bible Institute of Los Angeles opened its doors for the thirty-third year as a place of training for Christian leadership. Knowing that many readers of THE KING’S BUSI NESS will desire to join with us in thanksgiving, we submit the following statistics: Day School Enrollment—440 Evening School Enrollment—140 Correspondence School Enrollment— 1 , 000 . More than 25 denominations, some 10 different countries, and 30 states of the Union "are represented in our stu dent body. About 350 of the Day School students live at the Institute. As we face these serious-minded younj; people of college age in our class? rooms, listen to their whole-souled tes-
gets more hearty and generous re sponses to any appeal for service. A teacher who praises his class can get more work and better work from them than can another who is never satisfied with anything they do. If we would have the flowers of Paradise blossom in our homes, we must frequently and plentifully water them with appreciative words, encour aging them with the sunbeams of sym pathy. “Post ' mortem praise,” our old friend Dr. Farr used to say, “has no effect and awakens no response.” We probably will cut a lot of kind words on the gravestones of friends and loved ones who received few expressions of praise from us while they lived. They might have been better servants of Christ while they lived, had we given them the flowers when they were due. In some cases, the date on the tomb stone might have been postponed con siderably, had the kind words been given. Brethren, let us all take it to heart. In the home, in the ‘ church, in the world, if the richest treasures of genius and love are to be brought out, there must be sympathetic and appreciative faith. Turn it around: “Brethren, I praise you NOW.”—Keith L. Brooks. “ Whoso Offereth Praise . . . ” The Christian is exhorted to “do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31). To glorify God is to fulfill perfectly the purpose for which man was created. Thanksgiving, along with holy living, has a very significant place in glorify ing God, as may be seen in His declara tion, "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me” (Psa. 50:23). Unthankfulness is a fearful sim It is linked forever in the Word with the darkest of iniquities (2 Tim. 3:2). The importance of thanks giving is further seen in that it is to be the eternal occupation of the glori fied saints (Rev. 19:6). LET US BE THANKFUL. Thanksgiving that is acceptable to God is exclusively a privilege of the re deemed, for “God heareth not sinners” (John 9:31). How vain will be the na tion-wide Thanksgiving festivities of men who come annually with an unholy offering, as did Cain, ignoring the Son of God! The Spirit-filled Christian baffles the world. He gives thanks “in every thing." The behavior of the Apostle Paul is exemplary in .that he was able continually to offer thanks to God with
Serious Indifference . Without comment, we pass on the statements of “a non-partisan organ ization to get church members to vote,” known as the Citizen’s Respon sibility to Vote, with headquarters in New York City: “Between 14 and 18 million non voting church members in the U. S. AU If religious liberty should be restricted or lost in the United States, could the church mem bers escape the responsibility for that loss? - . . . In the national election of 1936, over 27,000,000 eligible American citizens failed to perform .their duty to vote. How can we know how many of those 27,000,000 non-voters were church members ? At least we do know by the federal census that there were 72,943,624 eligible voters «in 1936. Only 45,812,155 voted. . . .. It is not merely man’s privilege to vote" if he cares to do so; it .is his solemn duty, bought with the lives of millions throughout the ages.”—Louis T. Talbot. “ I Praise You” - In 1 Corinthians 11:2 is a little statement that lets in a flood of light on one of the reasons for the success of the Apostle Paul in putting people to work for Christ: “Now I praise you, brethren.” Who does not appreciate apprecia tion? Is there anything more discourag ing to Christian workers today than the lack of it? Even God claims it. The Bible abounds with exhortations to praise the Lord. Our prayers should all be perfumed with it. Yes, we may say that God is limited and hindered in His work for us by our lack of appreciation. Appreciation is a ' necessary ingre dient in the finest and most successful work for God. It has a real creative value which many of us overlook. Paul under stood the philosophy of this when he addressed the Corinthian church in this eulogistic strain. None can say Paul was blind to their faults. He reproved and rebuked them faithfully, sometimes severely. But where a bit of praise was possible, he bestowed it and thus stirred them up to higher endeavor and greater fruitful ness. A church member who encourages his pastor puts heart in him to do better work. A minister who praises his people
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