The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1911-04-13
JOASH REPAIRS
THE TEMPLE

I u
I Chrou. 2s.s
TtMB-In the twcnty-third year O,
Jonsh's reign. 81 ". G. (Beechcr). SCI n
9. UIastingsD. Joash was slain I'm ths
fortieth year of his reign. SH h. c. C3ee
cher). 500 II. G. OIsstingsl
| PbACE-Jerusaicm and the Temple.
KtNGS-tIazael Il king OF Syria: Js.
hoahaz has succecd-d Jehu in Israel: In
tNssyria Shaimanezcr III. has died and
Nhamash-ramman has come TO the throne
Joash did that which was right in
the sight OF the Lord while Jehoiada
the high priest was alive. but after
the death OF that good man Joash al.
lowed the people TO become idolaters
again. Even during Jehoida's life.
moreover. the worship at the high
pieces was allowed to go on. These
local sanctuaries were held to be con.
ducive to true religion. The Temple
was his boyhood home. bis safe ref.
uge for seven years from the murder.
GUS cruelty of Athaliah. In the TEN
pie lived his best friends There he
had been crowned No wonder he
came to love those courts, and TO sor.
row over their diiapidated condition.
Joash called together the priests
and the Levites. and babe them draw
from the regular funds for the Tenn
pie restoration. This money OF the
dedicated things. the money conse-
Grated TO religious uses by the people.
was obtained from three sources:
Money OF every one that passeth the
account: that Is. the poll-tax Of han.
shekel paid by every male Hebrew
above the age OF 20 whenever a cen.
sus was taken. Money that every
man is set at; "All the assessments.
Money that cometh into any mans
heart TO bring: The freewill offerings
Of the people for this purpose. which
might be large.
The church workers, even whon
they take thought for the church.
have little heart in their work. The
facetious Sydney Smith had two
Jokes of oxen on his little farm in
Yorkshire to which he gave the
names of Tug and Lug Haul and
Crawl These would be appropriate
names for n large class OF church
members who put no heart into their
Christian work. II Is mere tug and
toll and task TO them.
There is a lack OF cooperation. A
minister called upon a member who !
had been neslecting the week night |
service. and went straight up TO the |
fireplace in the sitting room. and |
with the tongs removed n live coal |
from on the fire. and placed It on the |
hearth. then watched II while II turn. |
ed from the red glow OF heat to a |
black mass The member in question
obseGed the proceeding.
and then said. you need not say a
single word, sir; I'll be there on
Wednesday night" No church fire
can burn brightly n the Goals are pull.
ed apart.
Though many other reasons might
be given for the failure when church
work falls behind. Il is all summed up
In one cause. the absence OF Christ.
Getting Christ into the people will
solve the problem OF getting people
INTO the church." and getting them 10
work when they are there
With the frankness and openness
with which all church matters should
be treated. Joash sent for Jehoida
md the subordinate priests and ask.
ID them. with some Indignation.
why repair ye not the breaches OF
he house?"
A very simple plan was adopted.
appealing directly to the religious
zeal of the people. A wooden chest
vas taken. and slit was made in the
Id for the money to pass through.
This was set beside the altar. How
lid Joash's plan succeed? Admirably;
I brought In much money. People
Ike TO give directly 10 a cause. 10
now Just how their money Is spent
rhey are far more likely to respond
o special than 20 general appeals.
The kings secretary and the high ,
'riest went together 10 the chest,
ounted the money. and put II up in
ags. II was then given TO the over.
GERS OF the work. and they paid Il out
, the carpenters. builders. masons and
he men that furnished the timber.
ewn stone. and iron and brass. Moth. !.
ng was spent on mere ornaments
was devoted TO tho solid
epair OF the fabric. In all church
FORK progress is made only by fix.
lg upon a goal and allowing nothing
D turn one aside I'll the goal is
cached
The crown OF Joash's life was what
e did for the house OF God. Such
'ork will be the crown OF any life
nat undertakes IL. There is room
! Gods house for all kinds OF work. Z
rs and all degrees OF skin. Even
he youngest scholar In the Sunday a
,hool can make a helpful contribu-
on TO the Temple service. =,
Work for the church should be pro
ressive: we should become more ef.
Client church workers every year. q
o this end II is necessary that we u
egln young. tust as singers and
ano players begin young. o
Jack OF all trades and master of U
,ne%. is as true Of church work as OF y
DIRK IN secular callings. Every
,ung Christian VIM be wise II he Sc
cts some line OF work for God and y
lltiyates Il as his specially. II may
, singing. or teaching. or social
ork. OF administrative work. or v
work. or the use OF the c