Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-03-15
CHRISTIAN EHOEAvOR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
BEGINNING March 10, 1911.

To1ic.-The danger and uses Of money
Prev. xiv. "A: Tim. vi. 1913. Edited by
Rev. Sherman H. Doyle. D. d.
No Is trust from God. As we
have nothing that we have not receiv-
I'd fssm a loving Heavenly Father. so
Of everything that we possess each one
q - is our Fathers steward. No man
is wise in the Scriptural meaning Of
TIE word who does not accept this fact
Of stewardship. No man can live as
q CHRISTIAN who does not recognize
Go4s ownership of Himself and of all
tha4 he has and freely acknowledge
GsA's right to require that in the use
Of an that ne has he shall be found
fa1ehful While this is true of every
nan and of every talent, it is pecul-
iaviy true of that man to whom God
- htrusted riches. Only as the rich
nan accepts his possessions as from
Cd, to be used for the purposes of
CD and to be accounted for unto
Gsd, viii his riches prove to him a
blessing and not curse and In his
hands prove to be blessing and not
q casse to his fellow men.
As Christians we sometimes wonder
whether it is right for any man to be
rich. More than one man feels that
TIE teaching and the example Of our
Lsrd make the possession Of wealth
inesusistent with an honest profession
of Christian faith. We cannot believe
that such an idea is true. 1t is not
in the possession Of wealth, but in the
Aliases Of wealth, that the evil lies.
Prosperity is certainly one Of the bless
i1gs Of God. True faith enriches, for
a kse faith produces a morally superior
moa. 1t makes a man honest, indus
tsiO1s, temperate In every way. 1t i'm
Rssves his lot. The profits Of goodness
ore earthly as well as heavenly. Jesus
recognizes this fact. He commapds
- b give, enlists US In every good
c0uee, teaches US to be good Samari-
taas. We must have money If we are
gs1ng to do these things. Instead Of
teaching that the possession Of riches
Il wrong Jesus emphasizes the respon-
sjlilities Of riches, blesses the man who
mos them as Gods faithful steward
aAA condemns the man who, being rich.
- indifferent to his brothers need.
Or Lord warned us against the
dnngers Of riches-warned Us repeat
60. He painted the picture Of the
I'm fool. He taught the parable Of
~ rich man and LaxaruA He con-
oenns both these men not because
0ey were rich, but the lone for his
selfish indulgence and forgetfulness Of
0nd. the other for his selfish disregard
- men," That Is always our peril.
While men are putting gold into their
hands the gold may be stripped from
their hearts; while men are enjoying
their fine houses and sumptuous feasts
their brothers may be starving at
their very gates; while men are laying
up earthly treasures their hearts may
nst be rich toward God. Riches are
an awful responsibility No man
needs more of the grace of God than
the rich man. To be rich and to keep
a spirit which is pure and humble.
Sincere and generous-what man has a
harder task than that? To be rich
and to meet the obligations of riches
as a man of God. to be rich and to let
the spirit Of God control in the use Of
our riches-that Is to achieve splen-
DID moral victory.
OeIoved, l wish above all things
TINT thou mayest prosper and be In
health, even as thy soul prospereth.