The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-04-02
Wise Use of Money.

sends it does not mean it to hurt US. w
need not fear it with feeble terror, thougl
no one sin has ruined SO many souls as GOV
etousness. We will not spring at it with
autter of excited joy, for it is a grievou
trial to the humblest and the simplest.
And if money goes, let it 60. Only lie
US see that it does not go through any folly o.
sin of ours. Job lost his in one way, ant
Lot lost his in another. The end of Jol
was crown of glory, but the candle of Lo
went out in hideous night. Probably there
are few of US who have lived to middle life
very few indeed who have passed it, to whose
door could be laid no error of judgment II
spending their money, no taint of conscience
in making it. In this greatest of trusts
who has not sometimes failed? Conscience
has said, "Give," and we have not given
We have steeled our hearts, and summoned
our coldest judgment to justify us in re
fusals, which now we would gladly get back
but it is too late. Witnesses to our self-in
diligence surround US in every room we en-
ter; if We have done something for oul
Lord, our heart whispers we might have done
so much more!
But there is time in front; and He who
gives US power to get wealth will also give
us wisdom to use it, if we really ask him.
Let us be wise, simple, and kind.
Wise as those who have been called tc
liberty, and mean to use it; believing in
Gods love to US, understanding that he in
tends and expects us to be happy; with q
healthy conscience that does not chafe ut
about every half penny, yet guided in al
we do by the steady purpose of heart thai
has been taught to value the precious things
of God.
Simple, SO that money shall not spoil US
with its influences of power, nor vulgarize
US with its tendencies to vanity, nor coax us
with the softness of its luxury. Surely some
allowance should be made for rich people as
well as for poor. If God, who knows their
difficulties, must be ready to bear with them,
let US bear; but let US also see how bless
ed is the lot of those who, being neither
rich nor poor, dwell in the temperate zone
of q kind of safe table land, which is nei.
ther chilled by want nor swept by tropical
storms. Oh how terrible must death be to
rich man who has never so used his riches
as to have friends to welcome him into the
heavenly habitations, and whose only idea of
Lazarus in the other world, is that he should
still wait upon him there!
And kind, for "blessed is he that consid-
ersth the poor" and if every one is poor in
something in which some one else is rich,
great are the opportunities of little kindnesses,
not only from equals to equals, but from
one class to another class, whereby but a
small amount Of money will enable thought.
full hearts to smooth the hard pillow of their
suffering kinsmen. There are many and
various cups of cold water, which tender
hands can lift to hot lips, with the promised
blessing of their Divine, Redeemer; many
little gifts, and many secret offerings, which
He will publicly recognize in the Great Day.
Do we all quite see what is put into our
power if our hearts are, kind, though our
means are scanty? Do we clearly under.
stand that the true virtue of almsgiving is in
being our own almoners ? that the triae from
our own hand, pressed into hot and thinned
fingers, with smile that CLEANS with sym
pathy, and word that recalls the presence
of Christ, is worth ten times more to man,
perhaps also to God, than purse of gold
sent through stranger ?-Sunday Mag
azine.