Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-30
Gpmortb league
Topie
REV. SAMUEL W. GRAFFLIN.
"a Well Rounded Life. y

christian Stewardship
Scripture basis: IT Corinthians. 81; Luke. 1:ic
~ HE topic for the month of October
Ill is Firm Foundati tons" and has to
do with our living, giving and
warning for Jesus sake: and there is so
much danger attaching TO an unevenly
developed spiritual life that before going
on to the consideration of the "founda-
tons themselves we must speak of "A
we'll rounded life. with Christian stew
ardship as subtOpic.
Many Christian lives are uneveniy de-
veloped are ''lopsided' Some particular
phase of living or serving appeals to us
and We magnify the value of the thing in
which We believe and mnify all else. un-
iii at length We become warped and un-
able To properly estimate the general
work of the kingdom OF God. The loss is
twofold, for in this concentration of all
our thought and powers upon one object
our other powers become atrophied, I'M
able to respond to any other service. and
at the same tine the larger cause is los
ing our interest and support.
Two scriptures are gwen US. The first
exhorts the Corinthians to Hberality, lest
they come short of spiritual completeness :;
the other is a sharp rebuke to those who
were scrupulouSly exact about their tth-
ing. but lax about the more important
Three thoughts present themselves
l. Lop-sided Living.-The contributing
cause of most of the diseases from which
the race suffers is the lack of we'll round
Ell living We eat too much or too little,
sleep too much or too little, exercise. play
work or night too much OF too little, and
the same general cause lies at the root
of our spiritual disease Giving can never
take the place of loving or sanctity Of
sacrifice. 1t is the life that takes a part
at least, in spirit, in all the act vities of
the kingdom of God. that counts for
most. The disciples of our Lord would
hardly have had the strength for the
mighty task of feeding the 800 if il had
not been for their practice at the oar.
One task begetS strength for the other,
and nothing was more characteristic OF
the activities of the Master than their
variety. I.op-sided living narrows our
horizon. atrophieS our powers and robs
the world of that which we could and
should contribute TO It's many and vary
ing needs.
ii. The Nature of Christian Steward
ship.-The steward is one who cares for
the goods of another. only sharing in
them 10 the extent of his present needs.
mat Is OF should be, the attitude of the
servant OF God toward all temporal pos
sessions Whatever We have is His. not
ours: lent US for a time that We NAV
use and improve that which has been
committed to our care. We have The right
10 everything that is needful for our sus-
tenance, but the first fruits belong to
Him who gave us all We are like Chill
dren who at Chr stmas time-to make
their little stores and teams with their
mock bales of merchandise, seem real
ask OF their father pennies for the play,
and he indulgent let's them have the
coin. knowing full well that they so soon
must sleep. And when at length the room
grows still he comes and bears them 10
their couch of rest. gathers the coin
which all the while was his, and on the
morrow puts Z 10 some other use God
OF
strength, that We may use, develop and
enjoy the splendid things God grant
That when He comes 10 bear US sleeping,
10 our rest. called death. He shall not find
that we have fallen asleep. guard -ng some
pennies. with miser's care. that might
have made some other child OF His glad
with abundsn nee.
Ill Spiritual Completeness.-It has al
ways been easier TO pass around the OBJ
St!uctions that lie in our paths than 10
remove them; easier to do pleasant con-
genial things than those that call for self
denial and sacrifice. but what of the fu-
ture, when we indulge such tendencies .