(Wjihi featu res
I B I O L A
broadcaster Monthly Publication of the BIOLA FELLOWSHIP V o l. 5 N o . 2 F E B R U A R Y , 1 9 6 5 CONTENTS USE YOUR TALENT ................ 3 RECKONING DAY .................. 5 WASTED TALENTS .................. 7 SHEEP AN D GOATS ................ 9 COME YE BLESSED .................. 11 DEPART YE CURSED ............... 13 PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN GIVING ......... 15 QUESTIONS AN D ANSWERS .....23 THE BIOLA FELLOWSHIP PLAN ..27 OUTLINE STUDIES IN HEBREWS 32 COVER: One of the beautiful desert flowers from the state of Arizona serves as a reminder to pray for the ministry of Biola's affiliated school in Phoenix, the Arizona Bible College where more than 100 young men and women are being prepared for the Lord's service around the world. Y O U R C H R I S T I A N W I L L Did you know that there is a way to invest in Biola for the training of students while saving costly estate taxes. Ultimately you may be able to leave more money for your loved enes. As a Fellowship member you are under no obligations when you write for information or counsel. BIOLA STEWARDSHIP DEPARTMENT STAFF President .................... S. H. Sutherland E d ito r....................................Al Sanders Production ...............Virginia Schwepker Printing ............................Church Press Published monthly by the Radio Dept. BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES 558 S. Hope St., Los Angeles 17, Cal. Controlled circulation postage paid at Los Angeles, California.
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93.7 (FM) 11:00 P.M. MTWTF (Radio hog continued on page 25 )
T here are three parables given by our Lord Jesus Christ in the Olivet Discourse. The last one is that of the eight talents. Three men are in volved in the story. One received five talents, the second two, and the third just one. There is a lesson for us in Christian stewardship in this teach ing. There is a coming day of reckon ing when we must all give an account as to the way in which our talents have been used. As far as the Church of the Lord Jesus is concerned, we shall never be judged for our salvation. That ques tion was settled at the cross once and for all. It comes by our personal faith in the Saviour. But this judgment is based upon our service and conduct in life. As far as Israel is concerned, she too must give an account of her ways. God will evaluate her work even as the Lord Jesus will ours. Matthew 24:14 reads, “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man trav eling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.” These workers were entrusted with their master’s goods. We learn of the period of absence, as well as the promise of return. This was true of our Lord Jesus Christ Who told His disciples, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3). “If I go, I will return” is the provision of this trav eling man. The servants were to take over for him and to represent him in all the affairs of management. This, of course, is the position of the Chris tian. Our Saviour is in heaven from whence He will be coming again soon. In the meanwhile, you and I have
been made His stewards. His posses sions have been entrusted to our hands. We are faithfully to represent Him as He would represent Himself were He personally here. Verse 15 gives us an interesting in sight on this as we read, “And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one.” Note how these things were distributed. Fre quently we will see an outstanding man endowed with many gifts. On the other hand there may be an individual STEP BY STEP He does not lead me year by year Nor even day by day. But step by step my path unfolds; M y Lord directs my way. Tomorrow's plans I do not know, I only know this minute; But He will say, "This is the way. By faith now walk ye in it." And I am glad that it is so, Today's enough to bear; And when tomorrow comes. His grace Shall far exceed its care. What need to worry then, or fret? The God who gave His Son Holds all my moments in His hand And gives them one by one. — Barbara C. Ryberg who seems to have little ability, or perhaps possessing a gift in only one limited area. In life itself, it is well to remember that God doesn’t judge a two-talent man on a five-talent basis. The Lord’s discernment is qualitative only. The greatest .question this por tion of Scripture brings to mind is the manner in which these talents were put to use. In verses 16 and 17 we read, “Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And like wise he that had received two, he also gained other two.” It is interesting 3
to note that the one who had two tal ents didn’t worry about the one who had five or vice versa. They went about their business and turned their gifts into a profit. Here were practical and diligent workers. All God requires is that, with His power, we do the very best we can. Some reader may be very practical minded and can earn money. Another may be gifted in teaching. Still another may be gifted in taking care of children. I have a friend who hasn’t too much formal education but who has a tremendous natural aptitude for E'en as He hath led me all the way, Along life's twisted, tangled trails, I shall not miss the way. I shall not miss the way, In joy or sorrow, In all life's changing scenes of grief and woe, M y Lord will lead me to a bright tomorrow, And there my Saviour I shall fully know. I shall not miss the way, For He will lead me. And when death's angel summons me to come, Christ will go with me through the darkened valley. Safely taking me Home. — Emma A. Williams business. One time he said to me, “Ralph, I wish I knew the Word of God like you do. I wish I could get into Greek words and see what mean ings the. Lord has for us. But that doesn’t seem to be my gift.” I re sponded with a smile, “You needn’t be envious. The Lord has blessed you in other ways. You can earn money to help support the Gospel ministry, and in this manner we can be partners to gether. You do the planting, I do a little watering, and the Lord gives the increase.” We can admire talents oth- I SHALL NOT MISS THE WAY I shall not miss the way, For He will lead me.
Dr. Richard Chase, head of the Biola College Speech Department, brings a message from God's Word to Biola staff members during at recent gathering on Campus. er people have, but let us not be en vious or jealous. All that God re quires is that we use the talents He has given to His glory and to the blessing of others. But look at the sad note which comes into the parable. Verse 18 reads, “But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.” He was not willing to take an opportunity with the others but was cautious to the point of sel fishness. Because he exercised no faith in practice, he lost the one tal ent he did have. Let me ask you, “What are you doing with your tal ent? Are you just hoarding it, afraid to let it be used?” The other day I saw a woman in a wheel chair. She was not able to walk. She could have been gloomy and downcast, however, in talking with her she declared, “Mr. Keiper, I’m not able to walk physically and be cause of that I’ve learned much bet ter how to walk with the Lord Jesus. I suppose, since you aren’t able to see well physically, that you’ve learned to see spiritually much better than be fore.” Her affliction was not a handi cap for she had capitalized on it for the glory of the Lord. You can do the same as you commit your life and pur pose to the Lord day by day. 4
T here must always come a day , no matter what business you may be in, when accounts have to be settled. In the parable of the stewards and their talents in the Olivet Discourse, we see this definitely illustrated. Let me ask you first of all, however, if you know what a talent really is, as given to us in this portion of God’s Word. Someone may say, “I think it has to do with money.” Another may picture it as ability. Actually both meanings are correct. The first two servants had wisely invested their talents, but the third had merely buried it in the earth. The master of the household reminded him that at least he could have taken the one to the bank where it would have gained interest. The word talent has to do with weight. There were so many units of weight in a talent. Its true value was to be determined by the metal that was weighed. There were both gold and silver talents. By best esti mates in our modern coinage, a tal ent would be worth around $1,000.00. Matthew 25:19-23 gives us a pic-, ture of this day of reckoning. We read, “After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.” He wanted an account ing given to determine if the stewards really knew how to invest money en trusted to them. Verse 20 tells us, “And so he that had received five tal ents came and brought other five tal ents.” He had earned a hundred per cent on his investment. He said, “Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Incidentally, this portion of Scrip ture gives us both meanings of the word “talent” merged together in the
one statement. The greater the re sponsibility, the greater the privilege. What a great and important principle is introduced here. So many people want to begin at the top rather than at the bottom. Invariably, however, if a man is to be successful he must begin at the start and climb the lad der. Being faithful in the things which his hands find to do makes it possible for larger opportunities to open for him. A friend of mine is quite well up the ladder in life. Knowing him very well, it is interesting to realize that many of the opportunities which have come his way are because he was ready for them. He was asked to work for a certain well-known organization one time simply because when he was asked to preach at a church he was faithful and did the best he could. He didn’t know the opportunity would be coming to him, but he was prepared. Now, whatever opportunity the Lord might bring your way must be faced in the self-same manner. What was true with the dividends of the five talent man was also true with the two talent investor. His total was around $4,000.00. Believers today need to learn the lesson of faithfulness. You may be dreaming of living on mountain tops. You have built your air castles, and now conjecture on success in whatever type of life you have chosen, whether real or fanciful. The only way you can really climb is to get down to the bed rock of reality. The steps up are the steps of faithfulness. You must do what you know you should do right where you are before the Lord can give you something more, and per haps something with greater signifi cance. Everyone wants success. True hap piness, however, results in being faithful; in investing our talents for God’s greatest glory. They must be
things which will be profitable to Him as well as providing a blessing to oth ers. How are you using your talent? Are you abusing your gifts with which the Lord has entrusted you? There is a day of reckoning coming which we must all face. God grant that you won’t bury your talent, but that you will invest it wisely for Him. Of a certainty He is coming back again. Will you be ready? HURLING THROUGH SPACE A remarkable event took place near a Nebraska airport where Sergeant Vernon E. Emtrekin was in real dan ger. He was one of the six aboard a craft when the pilot lost his controls about 5,000 feet above the town of Dwight, Nebraska. There was noth ing left but to bail out. Emtrekin’s left foot, however, got caught in the parachute rigging and he went sail ing through space, in the middle of a swirling snowstorm, helplessly comght in his own parachute. In spite of all these fatal hazards, and, although it was Sgt. Emtrekin’s first jump, he somehow managed to keep perfectly calm throughout the terrifying ordeal. A verse from the 115th Psalm kept ringing in his ears, “The Lord up- holdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.’’ He prayed for unusual strength to climb back into the harness which he had failed to fasten securely. Gasping for breath in the icy air, and with the last ounce of energy, he doubled his body, caught hold of the harness above his foot and finally was able to get back into a sitting position just a short distance from the ground. He landed safely with a sudden jolt, yet not hurt. In telling of the experience later, he testified that all the strength he had left was spent on saying, “Thank you, Lord!” What a miracle! Today, it may seem as though you are falling into space with no one to catch you, no one to help you, nothing to hold onto. The Lord God, however, is the only One who can help, bringing peace in place of anxiety, satisfaction for frustrations, for “underneath are the everlasting arms.”
Dr. Samuel H. Sutherland (left), Biola President, meets with Rev. and Mrs. Wilbur Nelson following a program they recently presented to the students. Rev. Nelson is director of "the Morning Chapel Hour" radio broadcasts. WHOSE CHILD ARE YOU? There is an intriguing story which has been handed down through the centuries concerning Cyrus the Great. His grandfather was so jealous of anyone that he had the lad’s father killed, and then sought to take the life of the next heir in succession. Can you imagine such a depraved mind, jealous of a baby for fear that some day he might have to step down from his throne ? One of the palace servants overheard his evil desires and spir ited the lad away to a distant city where he was placed in the hands of a shepherd who had no child. As the lad grew, he supposed that the shep herd was really his father. Being taught how to tend the sheep,- he al ways expected that some day he, too, would care for the flocks. The day came, however, when the servant re vealed the real story. His country called for him, and his time of shep herding was over. He ascended to the throne as Cyrus the Great, King of Persia. The transformation all took place when he found out whose child he was. Do you fully realize that you are God’s child and that He has a place for you in His Kingdom? Why not begin today to live as a Prince, as a joint-heir with Jesus Christ, should live. When we forget whose children we are, we stoop to things un worthy of us. How blessed to know that we are children of the King of kings. 6
by Dr. Ralph L. Keiper
WASTED TALENTS
I N THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS, there is a sad and tragic view con cerning the man who did not use his talent according to his proper ability. Some reader may find himself in a similar situation. You may not realize that you are wasting your ability which should be wholly devoted to the Lord. This man’s problem was that he was overly conservative and cautious. He felt he did not have the ability to do what he should. In addition, he was fearful of his master and the impend ing day of reckoning. Too many peo ple are so fearful of the future that they paralyze themselves with the present. Matthew 25:24 reads, “Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man.” There was evidently an improper relationship between the master and his servant. I believe there are many people today who are serving the Lord Jesus Christ in this same manner. They look at Him as a hard taskmaster and have paralyzed themselves with all kinds of fears. They experience no joy or victory whatsoever. They are capti vated in a prison built from their own imaginations. In a certain sense this steward was minding other people’s business in stead of his own. He had no energy to do what the Lord wanted him to do. There were tragic results which fol lowed. One of the common practices in the day of our Lord was to hide money. There were no banks as you and I know them today. Cash would be carried in money belts and conse quently it was often lost or stolen. Now, the day of reckoning has come for this servant. He must come be fore the Lord. The tragedy of it is, however, that he cannot say, “You gave me one talent, now I give you back two.” He could only sheepishly state, “Here’s the talent that you
gave me.” Look at the reply he re ceived, “His Lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant!” This is very sharp language. Perhaps he uses it in order to jar him into reality. In the final analysis the reason for his fear was a lack of energy. He is THE RED SEA When the children of Israel crossed the sea It comforts my heart to know That there must have been many timorous ones Who faltered and feared to go; Feared the ribbon of road which stretched Ahead like a narrow track With waves piled high on either side, And nothing to hold them back— Nothing to hold them back but a Hand They could neither see nor feel. Their God seemed distant and far away, And only the peril real. Yet the fearful ones were as safe as the brave, For the mercy of God is wide. Craven and fearless, He led them all Dry shod to the other side. And I think of the needless terror and pain We bring to our own Red Sea. Strengthen Thy timorous ones, dear Lord, And help us to trust in Thee! — Martha Snell Nicholson reminded that he had not been asked to go into the field to reap or to sep arate the straw from the grain. His business was to invest the talent he had been given. But this he failed to do. The end result was that the one talent was taken from him and given to the one who had the ten talents. 7
We might wonder why. The answer is that since he could not be trusted be cause of his lack of integrity, the BROKEN Jesus the Mighty One, broken for me, Open my eyes, afresh I would see The cross in its fulness life-giving and free, Jesus the Mighty One, break even me. Saviour, how often Thou hearest me say, “Oh! send a revival, as humbly I pray;“ Vet I in my sin, drive the blessing away, But now Lord, just break me, and have thine own way. Each petty resentment will just have to go. And every harsh thought must be cleansed Lord, I know. This critical “ 1“ must needs be brought low. If Thy love, through me Lord, to others would flow. At last precious Lord, I'm beginning to see Just what it will mean to be “broken" for Thee. I know it will cost, but I shall be free, For the blood of Thy cross alone is my plea. I would be kept, Lord, so close to the cross, That each tiny hindrance shall burn up as dross And as I draw nearer, there shall be no loss. Just Holy Spirit blessing at Christ's own cross. Then shadowed by Calvary, onward I 9 °, Praising-rejoicing, for now Lord I know That the secret of blessing is keeping down low, For as I am "broken," I shall over flow. — Nell Hawkins
Although the patient has received numerous shots, he never seems to get better. These are students in the Biola School ot Missionary Medicine, receiv ing important information in all phases of treatment so that their ministry on the foreign field may be even more effective for the Lord. experience, I thought the problem of prayer was my learning to trust God. I now see that this really isn’t the case. I personally believe the main problem is, “Can God trust me with what He would have me do?” This is the entire point of this parable. If God cannot trust you with little things, He will never give you the op portunity to be trusted with greater things. In verse 29 we get the message, “For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abun dance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.” Are you willing to carry out the responsibility which goes with the privilege of receiving? The parable concludes with the tragic denunciation, “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer dark ness : there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” What a tragic separation through loss of fellowship. Maybe you have no joy and feel as though you have been abandoned. Can it be that you have not been ex ercising your privilege and responsi bility for Christ? Have you made it impossible for God to trust you? Why don’t you say, “Lord Jesus, I will be faithful in the small things, and then you can trust me with whatever you desire.” When He sees you mean busi ness He will give you the talents and the abilities to fulfill your every task. 8
money was given to someone who had proven his ability and faithfulness. In the early days of my Christian
by Dr. Ralph L. Keiper
SHEEP AND GOATS
I N the W ord of G od , we have a very graphic picture of the judgment of the nations which shall transpire in the days ahead. The word “nations” can be taken in a two-fold sense. In the Old Testament, it referred to any countries which were not of Israel but which were Gentile. In another sense, however, the word “nation” may be construed as a political unit. Here in the Olivet Discourse, Mat thew 25:31-46, we find that the na tions are spoken of as “sheep and goats.” To begin the present picture the Lord prophesies, “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory.” Notice the little a d v e rb “when.” It indicates that these vari ous events He has been describing must occur simultaneously. This word is a paradoxical term for it suggests definiteness. It not only means that He is coming, but also there is an as pect of indefiniteness. No specific time is actually given. When He comes again, however, it will not be in humiliation as the first time, but with power and great glory. He shall come in kingly majesty. The world will then recognize Him as the Lord of lords. The judgment is suggested in verse 32, “And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd di- videth his sheep from the goats.” The Bible gives us a definite distinction between sheep and goats. Palestine was an agricultural country and many people had both types of animals. The two animals could never be bred to gether. They automatically separated themselves from one another. The two had to be fed and watered at differ ent times. It is a spiritual fact that there are righteous and unrighteous people in the world. There is a certain sense in which they may be tended
together, but never can they truly be bred together. This is because they are of extremely different natures. The analogy is a perfectly natural one for the Lord to use. This is the principle of separation, not according to our standards, but rather by God who is the sovereign Judge. The sheep are the righteous, and the goats the unrighteous. Look at their position as we read, “And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.” There is a certain parallel between THE STRANGE THINGS Some things my Father sends me, I cannot understand; Some things that He allows me, Seem strange, as from His hand. The frequent wounds and bruises, That bring me inward pain, Seem nought to me but loses. Without a trace of gain. No gain? Ah, I'd forgotten My Father's faithful word, That all things work for blessing, To them that love the Lord. Shall not I take the "strange things," That He is pleased to send, As blessings, shaped and tempered By His own loving hand. — L. W. Beckley the story of the ten virgins and this judgment. We have the difference be tween possession on one hand and rrtere profession on the other. The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ has a personal angle which is emphasized again and again. It also has a social angle, however, which, unfortunately, we all too often overlook and under play. Not only do we have a personal responsibility toward God, but also we have a social responsibility to those about us, beginning with the house- 9
hold of faith. See the classic passage in I John, chapters two and three, where our Lord says much at this par ticular point. The test of true love is doing something for those whom we can see. This takes the Lord out of the abstract and brings Him into the concrete. It also takes our Christian faith out of the heavenlies and brings it to the earthly and practical. In Ephesians 2:10 the truth is given, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before or- A FATHER'S PRAYER Dear God, my little boy of three Has said his nightly prayer to Thee; Before his eyes were closed in sleep He asked that Thou his soul would keep. And I, still kneeling at his bed, M y hand upon his tousled head, Do ask, with deep humility, That Thou, dear Lord, remember me. Make me, kind Lord, a worthy dad, That I may lead this little lad In pathways even fair and bright, That I may keep his steps aright. 0 God, his trust must never be Destroyed, or even marred by me; Let Christ in all my actions shine, To guide this little lamb of Thine. So for the simple things he prayed With childish voice so unafraid, 1 trembling, ask the same from Thee; Dear Lord, kind Lord, remember me! dained that we should walk in them.” Are you of the household of faith? Are you meeting your social obliga tions to your brethren? Are you let ting your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven ? God grant that when you and I stand before the judgment seat of Christ to be judged for our service (not our salvation), we may hear Him say, “Well done thou good and faith ful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!”
THE COMMAND IS "FORWARD" During one of the fierce and bloody battles of our nation in its first strug gle for freedom, General Washington called his counsellors together. The American army had crossed an im portant bridge and was pressing on to meet the enemy. As his officers assembled, he proposed a vital ques tion to them, “Shall we bum the bridge behind us?” One spoke up quickly, “No, we might need to re treat over it.” Hearing those words, Washington shouted t h e command, “Bum the bridge!” He wanted no one to be tempted to go back. The impor tant structure was laid to ashes. Per haps you are experiencing trials and problems along the way. It may be that you are counting on your money or on an extra reserve of strength. By faith we can venture forth for the Saviour who said, “I f ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.” * * * THE "SHOELESS" TOWN Vance Ha/vner tells of the man who had a dream wherein he arrived at a town where nobody wore shoes. Com ing upon an impressive building, he discovered, to his amazement, that it was a shoe factory. It seemed like such a paradox, especially when one of the citizens rationalized by sa/ying, “We get together here twice a week to sing about shoes, talk about shoes, and raise money to send others out to tell about shoes. But not many of us wear shoes ourselves.” The simple application of that dream, as it paral lels many a church today, is too close ly accurate to be comfortable. We gather each week to sing and talk, as well as to raise money to export a commodity of which we carry very lit- t ’e in stock. As you invest in the lives of. Biola students, you not only afford us the opportunity of sending them forth, but also your own feet will be shod with the preparation of the Gos pel of peace, because you become a partner with them in this world-wide soul-winning ministry. 10
by Dr. Ralph L. Keiper
COME YE BLESSED
T here are two classes of nations described in our Lord’s Olivet Discourse. Two separate destinies are given for each; one is an invitation, the other an exclusion. To one He says, “Come ye,” while to the other He must say, “Go ye.” In Matthew 25:34 we read, “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” The word “come” denotes fel lowship, although, on the opposite hand, the word “go” suggests separa tion. Have you ever been mentioned in someone’s will? Several have told me that I have been included in theirs; however, from the consideration of their health, I am afraid they will live much longer than I will. So actually, there is no point in being in a person’s will unless they die. Our Lord Jesus Christ died on Calvary’s cross. Consequently, whatever He has left us will be ours for He, the Testa tor, has died. I have in my study a number of things which people have left to me. $.s I look over these precious posses sions, I think of the wonderful times we had together before they went to be with the Lord. The Saviour not only left us a wonderful inheritance, but also rose again so that we might •enjoy the fullness and satisfaction of life. The wonderful thing is that as a result everything He has left me He also enjoys with me. Why should Christ say that we should be blessed? In verses 35 and 36 we read our Lord’s words, “For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” Here were people who were faithful in providing and caring for the Lord. In making
these statements to them, these faith ful ones were surprised. For their re sponse is, “When saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee?” -In other words, “How could we do all these things for You when You were seated at the right hand of the Father?” Christ explains that He was, of a fact, in heaven. But He was also represent ed in the poor, naked, hungry and sick. He suggests that when they saw those in need and responded they were working in them for Him. This is what is meant in verse 40 where we read, “Verily I say unto you, Inas much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” This brings a star tling fact to our attention. So many times we are influenced by the world as we considered “great” luminaries or heros. “Who’s Who” is a book which lists all the great as well as those who think they are great. This portion of Scripture suggests that God has His “Who’s Who.” By the standards of the world they may be far from any stature of fame. The Lord Jesus tells us that when we help those who stand in need, we
Dr. Walter L Wilson, beloved Bible teacher, will return te "The Biola Hour" during February. He is pictured here in our studios as the programs were prepared.
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are actually helping Him: If you and I took this passage to heart we might well treat some people differently. We wouldn’t look upon them as “dirt,” but rather consider them as we would Jesus Christ Himself. The Lord is ap pealing for His love to be expressed in and through you and me. We are nQt only to love in tongue and word but also in deed and truth. Do you believe that you are loving the Lord Jesus only to discover that you are really loving an abstract con-
If you brood over your troubles you will only hatch dispair. * * * CHRISTIAN SERVICE A veterinarian once suggested that a dog which is tied up will often de velop a bad disposition. It only wants to growl , snarl and bite. Similarly a soul that is in bondage reacts the same way. A Christian who answers a disagreeable word with a disagree able word is like a tethered, snarling dog. The Christian is one who should really love to answer railing words with words of blessing. He will an swer a hateful gla/nce with a smile, or answer cursing with a prayer. Here at Biola, in our program of training these nearly 1,100 students, we not only have classroom preparation for the young people, but also a means of sending them forth into various types of Christian service during their time of training, where they may give a ready witness for the Saviour. * * * Reformation is like putting a new shirt on a man, but regeneration is like putting ■ new man in a shirt. * * * GOD'S DELIVERY When the slaves were emancipated in the British West Indies, there was great joy and jubilation. It was not only a new year, but also a new era in their lives. On the night before the day of their freedom, thousands gath ered together for prayer and praise to God. Some went to nearby hilltops to catch the first glimpse of the dawn ing. When it first glimmered on the horizon, they knew that the day of de liverance had truly come. From the promise of prophetic Scripture, such truths are deeply engrained in the hearts of our nearly 1,100 Biola stu dents. As they go forth to serve, they do so with the fervent exhortation, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand.” “The coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” * * * Where the road is straight, don't look for a short-cut.
MY BOOK OF LIFE
I dosed another chapter In my book of life today, And paused for meditation As i lay the book away.
I thought of smudgy pages Where the record was not clear, And dreary lines of trouble Clouded o'er by doubt and fear. It's now too late to alter Any script that's dried and set: The story's far from perfect, But it's vain to stew and fret. I asked the Lord to pardon The mistakes that mar the book, And give me grace and courage While, hopeful, Christ-ward look. So now, there lies before me A new- chapter clean and white. And I hope to write its pages So the plot will turn out right. I trust the final chapters Will the Master's plan reveal,. And weave the many fragments To depict a life that's real. cept? Do you love those about you for His sake? May everyone of us be faithful to our stewardship as individ ual believers, even as God, on a na tional scale, will hold responsible those who have the social welfare of a na tion in their power and at their com mand. As believers, in this day of grace, we have the high privilege of being an example of what the Lord would have stewards of the earth to be.
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by Dr. Ralph L. Keiper
DEPART YE CURSED
everlasting fire. Unfortunately, much of some people’s theology has been learned from the comic strips rather than from the Scriptures themselves. Invariably hell is pictured as being a place of fire and torment, the devil with horns and a pitchfork. But such is not necessarily the case. From the point of view of fire and torment there isn’t a man who has yet gone to hell. Hell is not occupied at this moment. This comes after the final judgment. Now a sinner who dies goes into the abode of the wicked dead to await the resurrection of the un righteous and the judgment day. The reason they are cursed and cast out is just the opposite reason why the sheep will be welcome into the inheritance. Bewilderment is their ex perience as a result. The blessed didn’t see the Lord but they did see the poor, the sick, the naked, the imprisoned. As a result they did something about those in need. But here are these, perhaps outwardly just as religious, but who did nothing to bring assist ance or alleviation. Our Lord Jesus points out to them that though He was in heaven, yet He, in spirit, was among the poor, naked, ill-housed, prisoners and other. The question could also be put to us to day, “What think ye of Christ?” Are we serving Him today as we should? You may be asking how this may be achieved? Unfortunately, the world attempts the answer in mere social service. You and I, however, can give the real response because of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for us. As believers in Him we are to be faithful stewards so that we never shall be judged with the nations. We shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ. This is not a question of our salvation, but rather when we will give an account of our stewardship. May we hear Him say to us, “Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of thy Lord!” 13
F or our last stijdy in the Olivet Discourse we consider that our Lord Jesus Christ was explaining the glorious coming of the Son of man and the judgment upon the nations. He will gather them together and divide them into two classes. These will be the righteous and the unright eous, or as suggested in our parable, the sheep and the goats. The sheep are rewarded by a won derful invitation, “Come ye blessed of my Father.” The goats, however, are rebuked and excluded. The Lord tells them, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). What a contrast this is with verse 34. It is interesting, as well as impor tant, to realize that hell and an eternal fire were never prepared for man. It was not God’s intention, by His mar velous grace, that men should reject His love. He, of course, in His omni science, knew what decision every in dividual would make. There is no need to underscore the fact that God has never hated mankind. A good example of this is John 3:16 and 17. A careful reading of the Gospels also will show us that the great heart of God is emi nently interested in saving men rather than in condemning them. The open ing chapters of Genesis set this truth forth very clearly. When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden fleeing from God, it was the Lord who sought them out. They did not look for Him. At that time God provided a covering for them which established a type of the redemption which was to come. Now, as we come chronologically to the end of the age, as far as the parable is concerned, we find the re sults of man’s rejection of His Crea tor’s goodness and mercy. As a result He must speak to them not as a lov ing God or as a merciful Saviour, but as a righteous Judge. Let us think for a moment of this
scenity." (What a godless paradox!) The author tells of the concerted and deliberate effort to produce the most pornographic, obscene, and lewd pub lications in an effort to break down laws governing t h e censorship of books. The writer suggests trium phantly that “in 5 or 10 years literary censorship in England and America will be a thing of the past.” Think of the cesspool of books, magazines and motion pictures which pander to the depraved nature of man. Certainly this is another sign of the times, for our Lord reminded us that as it was in the days of Noah and Lot, so shall it be in the coming of the Son of man. The Bible declares, “Blessed is the nation whoseGod is theLord." * * * Half the worldspends more than half its time wondering how the other half can afford it. * * * REDEEM THE TIME Time is merely an accommodation for man. In comparison to eternity, however, it is so infinitely small that we can hardly grasp its true meaning. Have you ever wondered what the first time piece looked like? Perhaps it was nothing more than a stick in the ground, a forerunner of the sun dial. Alfred the Great is the one who gets the credit for a method of keep ing time after the sun went down. He ingeniously divided a candle into equal sections, p a in tin g alternate ones black. It took about an hour for each section to bum and, in this way, time could be told at night. The Chinese, meanwhile, tied knots in equal lengths of rope. Then they hung the strand up and set fire to it. The knots marked the hours. Of course, most house wives are familiar with the hour glass- by which eggs are cooked or three- minute phone calls are carefully ob served. But as we think of God’s truth we ask ourselves, what is our life? Scripture answers this pertinent ques tion with the words of the apostle James, “It is even a vapor that ap peareth for a little time and then van- isheth a/way.” 14
"GO FORWARD" Many have been th# fascinating journals of missionary statesmen who have carried the Gospel to the far reaches of the world. One such comes from the land of Tibet, revealing the intrepid determination of one of God’s ambassadors. The devil tried to tempt him with discouragement for a very heavy snow had covered the high pla teau. Icy winds cuttingly moaned across the desolate island. There the missionary sat in his tent, wondering whether he should go on to an un reached area of Tibet. He knew if he gave up now there would be many of the native people who would never hear the Gospel. So continuing in prayer, he wrote in his diary, “While I thought of turning back, deep snows, hunger, suffering, yet God said, ‘Forward.’ ” Then, months later, after exhausting climbs, fr e e z in g nights, and excruciating pain, he could say, “Mission Accomplished." For the first time the Gospel had pene trated this particular unreached area of Tibet. When one stops to think about it, the hills we have to climb may not be nearly as treacherous as those in Tibet, but as we go through the sorrows and hardships along the way, Satan also tempts us to turn back. Don’t give up in despair. God has a wonderful plan for you. Our Lord Je"susChrist said, “No man, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” In the power of the Lord, all things are possible! Our Saviour says, “Go forward.’’ * The firstthingthat seems to get broken after Christmas is the New Year's resolution. * * * MORAL DECLENSION It was Oliver Goldsmith who penned the words in the long ago, “111 fares the land to hastening ills a prey, where wealth accumulates and men decay.’’ This should serve as a danger flag for our own nation. A recent issue of one of our nation’s leading magazines had an article on “Advance Through Ob * *
by
PRINCIPLES
OF CHRISTIAN
cbarlei L
GIVING
Dr. Feinberg is Dean of Talbot Theological Seminary
1:17 we read, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no varia tion, neither shadow that is cast by turning.” From these Scriptures we see that God is the Maker, the Cre ator, and the Giver of all. You and I as believers are God’s agents. Romans 14:12 reads: “So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Paul is speaking to believers in this passage. The accounting will include our entire stewardship in this life. We are told in I Corinthians 6:19-20, “Know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is'in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own; for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body.” We are accountable to Him alone. The third principle is this. Covet ousness is to be guarded against. One great man of God in the Early Church said that he heard men confess to all manner of sin, but rarely, if ever, did he hear anyone confess that he was guilty of covetousness. Covetousness, we are warned, is a very serious thing. Our Lord Himself said in Luke 12:15, “Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man’s life con sisted not in the abundance of the things which he possessed.” Here is a profound truth, and the reason for the warning is given by Paul in Co- 15
T he C hristian public is often in confusion and doubt on the vital matter of giving, yet the Word of God is unusually clear on this important theme .Some general principles are in order here. First of all, we need to re member that giving is part of a larg er and all - comprehensive subject, namely, that of stewardship. Biblical stewardship recognizes the Lord’s ownership of all, whether it be time, talents or money; agreement by us to that commitment; and then the use of the same in conformity with the will of God. The Apostle Paul tells us through the Spirit of God when speak ing to the Corinthian believers in I Corinthians 4:1-2, “Let a man so account of us, as of ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Here, moreover, it is required in stewards, th a t. a man he found faithful.” In our stewardship God wants us to be faithful. Secondly, the basis of all steward ship lies in the fact that God is the Maker, the Creator, and the Giver of all. There is no more important Scripture in all the Bible on this theme than Genesis 1:1, “In* the be ginning God created the heavens and the earth.” All is made by Him. God is the Maker and the Creator. Psalm 24:1 tells us the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein. He is the Maker and Creator of all and in James
lossians 3:5, “Covetousness, which is idolatry.” God places covetousness in the same class and the same category as idolatry. It was Dr. Dewitt Tal- madge who once said, “Ransack the whole earth and show me one man that has been happy by temporal suc cess. You cannot find one out of the millions and hundreds of millions, not one. First, a man wants to make a liv ing. Having made a living, he wants to make a competency. Having made a living and a competency, he wants to make a superfluity. Having made a livin.g, a competency, and a super- THY STRENGTH AND MY DAY Give me Thy strength for my day, Lord, That whereso'er I go, There shall no danger daunt me And I shall fear no foe. So shall no tasks o'ercome me, So shall no trial fret, So shall I walk unwearied The path where my feet are set. So shall I find no burden Greater than I can bear, So shall I have courage Equal to all my care. So shall no grief o'erwhelm me, So shall no wave o'erflow; Give me Thy strength' for my day, Lord, Cover my weakness so. — Annie Johnson Flint fluity, he wants more, more, more.” The husks of this wilderness can never satisfy the hunger of the soul. Proverbs 27:24 rightly declares, “For riches are not forever.” A magazine stated some years ago that of Christ’s 29 parables, 13 of them referred to the right use of possessions. Jesus said more about money than He did about heaven. He talked more about money than He did about hell. He said more about money than He did about prayer, S c r ip tu r e reading, church attendance, moral living, bap tism, or the other doctrines that have
A different Bioia student is heard each day over the broadcasts. Here is Marcia Munger whose parents are missionaries in Nicaragua. divided Christendom. How important, then, is this subject of Christian giv ing, when our Lord Jesus Himself has placed so much emphasis and so much stress upon it. Better than 40 years ago, Dr.. C. I. Scofield of the Scofield Reference Bible fame, set forth in a wonderful series of Bible studies some signifi cant principles of Christian giving that we shall refer to here. A timeless example of Christian g iv in g is found in the case of the Macedonian churches, churches in Greece, of which the Apostle Paul wrote in II Corinthians 8:1-11. Those words are so important that you must take time to read them. They are more precious than gold and diamonds. “Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of Gor which hath been given in the churches of Macedonia; how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and deep pov erty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For according to their pow er, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord, beseeching us with much en- 16
read that they did not wait to be urged.. What a blessing that would be pastors all over the world, if they ddin’t have to entreat and beseech. These believers wanted to give, so they plead with Paul to take it. “Be seeching us with much entreaty in re gard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints.” They wanted their offering to go to the poor saints in Jerusalem. In the fourth place, they were not content with good resolutions, because they made a pledge. Some think pledge-making is not Scriptural; but these had made a pledge. They were not content with good resolutions, but they went on from that to perform the giving. In the eleventh verse we read: “But now complete the doing also; that as there was the readiness to will, so there may be the completion out of your ability.” You Corinthian believers, do what the Macedonian be lievers did. They were not content with what they had covenanted, pledged or promised last year or some time before, but they wanted to per form that which they had promised the Lord. Now notice, fifthly, the spirit in which we should give. That is in II Rehearsing lor their annual tour are several mem bers o< the Biola College Chorale. From left to right are Mr. Edwin Heppner, director, Janet Dollar (rom Riverside, Calif., and Roland Gangstee from Medford, Oregon. Jean O'Haver, from Van Nuys, is at the piano.
treaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints: and this, not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God. Insomuch that we ex horted Titusc, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace also. But as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnest ness of others the sincerity also of your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your Bakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might become rich. And herein I give my judgment: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will. But now complete the doing also; that as there was the readiness to will, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.” This is a wonderful portion of God’s Word. In fact, we make bold to say it is one of the most important passages in all the Bible on this matter of giving, espe cially Christian giving. Notice these forceful facts given in these eleven verses. First of all, the Macedonian believers give themselves to the Lord (II Cor. 8:5), “and this, not as we hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us through the will of God.” That’s the secret of Christian giving all through the centuries, giving oneself first and foremost and pre-eminently to the Lord. Notice secondly, they did not make poverty any excuse for not giving. So many folk make poverty an excuse for not giving. They were really poor. (II Cor. 8:2) “How that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their lib erality.” As poor as they were, that’s how liberal they were. And then, in the third place, we
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