The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-14

I Il + 7 OF = K q OA4l
ana COD. And God insists that the
choice be made.
Christ asks for our money because
He wants US.
The one thing lacking with uncount-
ed thousands of present-day church
members is exactly the same as was
lacking in the case of the rich young
ruler. They care more for their money
than they do for the fellowship of
Jesus. Often they wonder why reIig-
ion is hard and mechanical for them,
and why the tides OF joy and peace
never surge over their spirits The
answer is simple: their money chokes
up the channel Anything that is pre-
ferred above divine favor absolutely
prevents the full entrance of God into
d life.
Money is not inherently bad. it is
only when it comes into association
with evil, grasping or misery hands
that it becomes bad. Money may be-
indeed it is-a messenger of light, on
the wings of which the gospel flies to
the ends of the earth, help is borne to
the needy and cheer to the discouraged
in heart. 1t is the use which is made
of money that determines its charac-
ter.
The tainted money issue has been
practically settled no longer viii re-
ligious bodies solicit funds from men
whose wealth has been gained by
question: BILE means. The discussion
has been highly profitable It has clari-
fed the thinking of many and has pro-
voked the multitude to interest in a
grave ethical question. Out of the
smoke of controversy has emerged the
clear conviction that it is not money,
but hands, that are tainted
The Christian conception of life is
that of a stewardship. A man admin
listers his talents and possessions for
the glory of God and for the help of
his fellowmen. He is responsible to
more; he is responsible for all that he
can rightly possess, or become. AS
some men may be judged for their too
great possessions, SO others may be
judged for their too little possessions;
| they have shirked the cares and obli-
cations which the larger powers which
they might have commanded would
have entailed. It may be as great a
sin not to have money as to have TOO
much money.
There is no virtue in miserliness,
clOse-hstedneSS is no sign of saintlinesS
To have, to share, to give-that is the
divine way The story is ancient of the
deacon who was delighted with the
preachers first point, Get all the
money you can" and with the second
Save all the money you can but
whose enthusiasm was quickly chilled
by the third point, "Give all the money
you can"
so long as was financial secretary
! of the church, that man never TecOg-
nized me" said a rather cynical church
officer concerning one of the members
most prominent in public speech. The
test is true one. the measure Of a
/ Christians devotion is the extent OF
his sacrifice of his substance for his
church and his Master.
One of the tremendous sayings Ct
Jesus, which needs iteration and en-
] phasis in these money-mad days, fol
/ lows His conversation with the rich
young ruler. How hardly shall they
! that have riches enter into the king
/ dom of God" At this overwhelming
utterance the disciples stood lghast, as
we'll they might. In response TO their
! request for an explanation, the Master
said that He meant those who trust ir
riches. Yet, he continued, the state
ment stands; humanity speaking, it i:
1 impossible for a rich man to entel
heaven; this is one of the things oi
which it has to be said, with God, al
things are possible Only the eX-
traOrdinary grace of Jehovah can give
entrance to the city of gold to the life
/ encountered with eafJh gOio.
John D. Rockefeller must surely be
! accorded an experts right to speak OF
the subject of wealth, and his opinion
| is 1.-The poorest man I know is the
man who has nothing but money
!
A man may buy his way into society
or into politics or even into position il
the church, but no man can buy hi,
way into Heaven. The only concert
the recording angel has with a man.
/ bank account is to know how he go
/ it and how he uses it.
!
In view of the pre-eminence accord
ed to wealth in these days it is wortT
While to recall the significant remark
made by Jesus in connection with a dis
cussion of riches: MANY that are
first shall be last and many that are
| last shall be first"