Evening journal., 1906-09-29
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
beginning Sept. 30.
Nv REV. S. II. DOYITs

beginning Sept. 30.
BY REV. S. II. DOYLE.
Topic.-Religion In business affairs
Gen. xxx. 1-6.
One Of the facts that need to be
greatly emphasized today is that a
man must take his religion into the
business affairs Of his life. II a Chris
tan cannot take his Christianity into
his business he must take himself out
Of that particular business or must
give up his religion. Special reasons
exist why this subject should be en-
phasized today. "a The temptations
Of a business life are very great now,
perhaps greater than ever before. Com
petition is great and the desire for sue
cess Is strong Men want to get rich
in a day. And when they see that by
the practice OF fraud and dishonesty
they can Increase their business and OBJ
tain better results the temptation to do
so is very strong. CD There are many
men In the business world who have
no religion and make no claim to piety.
These are INSCRIPTIONS in business
dealings, and so far as riches are con-
cerned often meet with success. This
often leads men who prefer to be hon
est to do the same things. They must
flight fire with fire." but no man can
touch fire without being burned. CD The
fallacy widely prevails that dishonesty
in business Is not dishonesty. IL is
business cleverness and shrewdness.
/ A man who would scorn to take money
from another's pocket will not hesitate
TO defraud him IN business transac-
lions Nor win his conscience cause
him to lose sleep over his misdeeds.
The falsity of such theory should be
evident to a child And how it can be
accepted and practiced by business
men, who are supposed to have un-
usually sound judgment and clear
vision, is hard to understand. A bust
ness lie is no less a lie. A dollar
falsely obtained IN a business transac-
ton is as much a stolen dollar as one
bank, and the business man who takes
the dollar is as much n thief as the
! crook who enters a bank by night and
2 robs It. righteousness never had and
. never viii have one standard for bust
: ness and anoiher for the individual N
his personal relations.
Moreover religion is a help and moi
a hindrance TO business. The idea pre-
walls that men cannot be perfectly
, honest IN business and succeed. II
this be the case It is hard on business
and harder stiil upon the business men
of the world. If the affairs of men IN
their business relations with one an.
! other cannot be honestly conducted
and fair profit made. then there is
4 no place where reform is so much
. needed as In the methods OF the bust.
= ness world But such Is not the case
The presence of God Is always a
blessing and never a curse. The man
who takes God with him into his bust.
ness can succeed II he understands the
business and is efficient In conducting
q II. Joseph conducted the business OF
I Egypt upon a religious basis, and Goo
( blessed and prospered him. So He
i will bless and prosper all men who
take Him with them into their bust
ness affairs. Young men. In starting
out in life make God a silent partner
In your business and you viii have
one member Of the firm who will nevel
: fail you, and success will come. Ant
e II it should not, as men count success
II even then you viii be better Off. Pow
erty and honesty are preferable (,
e riches and dishonesty. Better be {
begging Lazarus than a Dives II t
y be Dives you must sacrifice your man
4 hood and your religion.
~ BIBLE READINGS.
N Elk. Xxx, 10; Ps. xxxvii, Ill; Matt. v
1; Is; vii, -; John TX, 4; Acts v, Ill
2 Rom. II. OIL; / Cor ", 2; Col. III
l. S-14; Rev. xxi, q.
4; Significant summary.