The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-18

has fought it and fought 1t until at last
by the grace Of God he has triumphed.
But though for years he has not tasted
a glass of liquor he has become so abb
sorbed In making money that he has grad
ually drifted away from walking with
God. One day he has an awful awaken
ing. He finds that his faith In Jesus
Christ is gone or that his only boy, who
is now more to him than his life, is a
drunkard, a libertine or a thief. This is
a danger he never dreamed about or
guarded against. Famine within famine;
death within death. And so, my friends
no matter how many dangers God has
rescued us from in the past. that is no
reason why we should turn our backs
upon God now. Like the poor widow Of
zarephath we must live and continue to
and spiritual dangers everywhere we
turn and everywhere we look.
Lasted as Long as Needed
But did you ever stop to consider how
long this supply of meal and oil lasted?
Just as long as the famine lasted No
more. no less. No sooner did the rain de-
scend upon the earth and the orchards
began to give forth their fruits and
the gardens their vegetables and the
fields their harvests than this miracu-
lous supply of food stopped as suddenly
as the mama of the wilderness ceased
when the children of Israel passed over
the Jordan into the promised land. When
man can help himself God always ex
poets him so TO do. God never takes
care of man who is not willing to take
care OF himself.
Methinks ! can hear a conversation be-
tween two lazy men Of the Israelitish
army the day after they had passed over
into the promised land. Joshua wal
sending forth his foraging parties to pro-
vide food for the encampment "Oh. ="
says one Of these men to the other,
there may be lots of rich grapes around
here and lots Of deer and birds, But I
guess | will not hunt for them. Hunt
ing always makes me tired. Come. let's
go out and get the mama The mama
is good enough for me. We do not have
to work for that" And so they go forth
to collect their daily supply. What has
happened? For the first week day in
over forty years the ground is bare God
never helps a man when he can help him
self. And so methnks | can see this poor
widow after the gardens are moistened
with the rain say TO her son. Com,
my boy let us go out and get the din
ner" But when she looks into the barrel
It is empty. Then she looks into the
cruse and the oil Is gone. God said
""rhe barrel of meal shall not waste nor
the cruise of oil fail until the day the
Lord sendeth rain upon the earth" God
never helps man when he is able to help
himself
Standing by Zarephath of the east. are
you ready to go to work in. Gods vineyard
and do the best you can for God? Show
ers Of blessings are falling everywhere
around us Are you ready to give up your
life to the service of the Master? Re-
member that when this poor widow gave
to Elijah of the little she had and there
was not only enough for the Tishbite. but
also enough left for herself and her boy.
Are you ready to give your all for
Christ ami trust him that he will care and
provide for you? Are you ready to give
OF your portion to help others who need
1t sorely. like these poor farmer folk I'm
famine stricken Japan? The reason some
of us do not grow in spiritual life is be-
cause we expect God to do all and we
are not willing to give all.
Is thy cruise Of comfort falling?
Rise and share fl with another
And through all the years of famine
It shall serve thee and thy brother
Love divine shall fill thy storehouse
Or thy handful still renew.
Sc3nty fare for one will often make
A royal feast for two.
And who was this Zarephath woman?