Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-13

were ready to contend for the highest
wage, and they were quick to choose the
most inviting master. The point of TINS
statement is that it is contract pure
and simple: so much work for SO much
pay. And it was in this that the warning
lay 20 the disciples. They had begun
service with Christ early in life ana
early in the history of the new kingdom
But it was possible fer them to continue
through the long day, to endure its hard
ships, it's tolls. and even to submit 10 us
prosecutions. yea. Paul tells US tilat they
might then be no higher than hred
servant. The simple mea ning OF TINS
statement is that ii we enter the service
Of Christ with the question, What shaii
we have Therefore, as a prominent ana
controlling consideration that we eau
never do the highest work. nor can we
ever reach the highest excellence.
1t is familiar fact. one that has been
e.npha sized by such writer's as Ruski'i'
that the highest work cannot be done loI
pay No money can buy mother love
and sacrifice. Work for wages must have
in it that fatal detect 1t does not 1nclude
love for the master. Or an Anxiety ~, 10
secure the most productive harvest me
workman is thinking of the penny tl,at
is to be his AT the close OF tine daH. nc
is Weighing his wages
Rut IS it possible that there can be
religion entirely disco nrected from re
wards, Certainly no. And most assulen-
IL. if such religion were possible IL
would be infinitely removed fr pm the re-
ligion OF Christ.
The Bible is strewn thick with promises,
They crowd the Old Testament as Wen as
tho \eu They were made to Abraham,
and Jacob and DAVID and the prophets;
The New Testament tells of crowns ana
thrones and robes ana klhsoo!hs, ~
speaks of glOries that are lnconcelVacie'
all of which are to be the pof.ioii "a ~ ,ae
saints when the day has ended, And be,
side, in the nature of the case, IL couiu
not be otherwise. Goodness ana happi-
ness are inseparably connec,eo. me
beatitudes tell of the blessedness OIL
the pure. the true and good Ahd inns
could not he otherwise God could not
make a world in which these things
would be reversed.
But this is far afield. Is there shch
thing as bargaining with Goa as the
latorers did with the househoider; l'e.
us be candid. and look the facts plainly
in the face. We know that TINS was .he
charge that Satan brought asaihs =
job. Doth Job serve God fof hausHt .
Hast Thou not made hedge aoout nm,
and about his house and about all tha'
he hath on every side?" Dob 1:9) we
know. too. that Jacob barSained Win Goo
at Bethel. And Jacob was never more
than servant until that night OF WIeSl-
ling at Pencil tGen., 32::6,. IL wouia oe
blessing if we could feel that all chris,
tians can now claim all the rights ana
privileges of the children OF COO. bu,
that day has not yet come. The Writer
OF these lessons was once talking 10 d
man who had long been an acceptable
member of the church. on the duty OF
benevolence when the man said: We'll.
you know 1t is this way, a man some
times wants to make an easy place lof
himself on the other side and so he gives
good sum to some school or church II
we could know the secret OF much OF
the giving. especially the bequests TO
charitable institutions, would not this be
its explanation?
Let IT be understood that it is not the
purpose of the writer TO impale any man 8
COED deedS with note of Interrogation
but because there is here danger II Is
duty TO utter note of warning. Is there
disposition upon the part of any TO
weigh service against reward? II so we
are periously near the condition Of the