Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1894-01-10
CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP.
Peter, 4th Chapter, 10th Verse: "As every
man has received the gift, even so minis
ter the same, one to another as good stew
ards Of the manifold grace of God"

/ Peter, 4th Chapter, 10th Verse: "As every
man has received the gift even so minis
Ter the same, one to another rs good stew
ards OF the manifold grace of God"
After reading the above text DIR. Willough-
by said; Thoughtfulness Is necessary that
we may really appreciate the greatness of
Gods nature. A glance at the ocean gives
no real idea OF It's vast majesty. He who.
would know this must dwell on its shore
must set sail on its bosom, must see 1t in all
Its varied conditions. When God is so stud
led the heart Is filed with reverence, is sub
dued with awe and exalted with purest love.
This is real worship. 1t rejoices in Gods
greatness and authority. 1t loves Him for
what he has created and cared for. II re-
Joices to be in subsection to Him. The more
we magnify God the less self appears All
things of this earth dwindle into mere atoms,
when seen in the shadow of Jehova. This
view of Gods real greatness make the wor-
ship of Heaven possible.
Then creatures can adore as we read In
Rev. 4; 8. "And they rest not day and night
saying Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty
which was and is and is to come. And the
four and Wenty elders fell down before him
that liveth forever and ever and cast their
crowns before His throne saying, thou art
worthy Lord to receive glory and honor
and power for thou has created all things.
and for thy pleasure they are and were
The Christian claims TO appreciate all this
He recognizes Gods power and rights to rule
and acquiesces In II. In speaking to God we
claim that we are his, in the fullest sense. In
writing to the Roman Christirns, Paul says:
{ Rom. | \ | hagaaph har fn hra 1,
by the mercies OF God, that ye present your
bodies living sacrifice, wholly acceptable
unto God, which Is your reasonable SERVICE"
Body, soul and powers here, are all to be dedi-
Gated, to an active, thinking, loving service.
In another place when speaking OF worldly,
fieshly living, Paul says, as If shocked at the
very thought, II Cor. 9: 10 9O) "What know
ye not, that your body is the temple of the
or God and ye are not your own? For ye are
bought with price, therefore glOrify God in
your body, and in your spirit which are
Gods" we all admit that we belong to God
lnasmuch as the thing created belongs to the
Creator. But God has another and stronger
claim on us, we have been bought with a
price, even the precious blood of Jesus Christ
we had been taken captive, sold into the
worst form OF slavery even unto sin, and yet
now have been redeemed at that Infinite cost.
Thus In the highest sense we belong to God,
Dut 10 come down to particulars. a. All
our work should be to his interest, and his
bloIy InlS 10 HOI oldNeTy Dtlb merely COOPER
alton. Those who are rightly in partnership
have common interests and like taste. Such
Is our relation 10 God, he Is the senior part
ner; we are all members of the firm. IL is
cooperative compact, we are to do all in our
power for him,but in doing so are furthering
our very best interests. Much of our work
In the study, on the farm, in the counting
room or office seems TO be for self and our
own family, but we are always to remember
Gods partnership. Nothing can be done for
his glory, for the building up of the church,
for the spread Of Intelligence and morality,
for the relief OF the poor or the elevation OF
society, but that we become sharers in its
blessed results. (2.) AS with our work, so
with our infiuence-all for God, for Christ
and the right. In one place we read that
even the shadow of Peter passing by wrought
miracles, we call that wonderful and super
natural. But we all cast shadows, some are
dark and baleful leading to sorrow and death;
Others like that of Peter giving Joy and
health and eternal life. A shadow passes
quickly, but its effects sometimes remains.
Our influence, however, always continues,
ana may deepen as the years pass. God has
a right TO claim that II be always on his side.
The coming holidays are to commemorate
the birth OF Christ. But how often do their
revelings and thoughtfulness bring death to
immortal souls. While we are often advised
TO shun, at all times, evil associates, let US be
certain not to stop at that, let our influence
be strong and positive, let Others find strength
and comfort In II. We are not our own, like
Ch' soet iSo uo ONCi pC uCip W OtutTSt ttInp-
est tossed and tempest tried; we owe II TO
God, We owe 1t TO our fellows, we owe 1t to
self. (3.) Our possessions are Gods. "When
OF the early Christians there was not one
that said aught Of things which he possessed
was his own," he was correct. Our plan of
and owning personal property is
right. But we must remember that Christ
In the parable of the talents represented the
master on his return, as collecting both prln-
cipal, and increase. We are stewards, and
each steward Is to care specially for the
amount OF goods put into his hands; all is to |
be so used as to secure the largest increase
In the general stock.
We have In former discoNrses advocated
tithing. This Is right so far, but we must |
not stop there. Gods work should have far |
more than one tenth. The tenth Is the rule |
laid down by Moses. Rules are for children
Is the test by which mature men
should be governed. In the childhood of the |
the law Of Moses gave rules in the |
of the Christian Church. Christ |
laid down the principle by which men are 10 |
be governed today, and that principle is that |
all belongs to God. Ye are stewards All of |
our property Is not to be given away at once. |
We are to spend just as much on necessities |
and comforts as will glorlfy God. More than |
giving to missions and then give the remain |
der. When John Wesley had salary of 30 |
pounds, he lived on q pounds, and gave two |
when his salary advanced to 90 |
pounds, he lived on 8 pounds, and gave 81 |
pounds; when 1t advanced to 10 pounds, he |
lived on S pounds and gave 81. That was |
right, and that far l am Methodist. The |
Idea abroad today, that every advance in |
position, bringing more income, necessarily |