Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1912-02-22
RELIGION MEANS HONEST
WORK, NOT SL0TH

reading the articles in the News OF
Socialism, but since they have beer
giving the lie to one another. an
not so interested. "Uncle Tom" hai
the right idea. When a party cannot
argue a point without falsehoods, JUS
drop out and pay no attention TO him
see where one writer says that So
eialism won't do, and referred his
readers to Deuteronomy 1873, "Thou
shalt remember the Lord thy God, fol-
it is he that giveth the power to get
wealth. " This writer has got,
think, a wrong view Of this passage OF
Scripture
When man becomes Christian be
does not sever his relationship to the
world in which he lives, he is given to
Christ by the Father as personal and
perpetual possession, but instead of
translating him, Christ sends him back
unto the very world from which be
has been saved. Christ said to the
Father, ''As thou hast sent me unto
the world, even so have also sent
them into the world, 'but when Christ
sends the saved man back into the
world be sends him back as new
man. They are not of the world. The
christian is In the world, but in the
world with new motive, a new pur-
pose and new power. Our master
we'll knew that it would be difficult
for bis disciples to be in the world
without being of the world and SO he
prayed: II pray not that thou should
st take them out of the world, but
that thou should's keep them from ev-
ill.,"
From the beginning. therefore, the
relation of the Christian to the affairs
of life has been a problem worthy of
the most serious study. In the early
times there were fanatics who felt
that il was below the dignity of a
christian to enter the secular pursuits
in which they had formerly been en-
gagged. They gave up their business
and brought discredit upon their pro-
fession by the vagaries of their other
worldism. The Apostle Paul tried to
correct this abuse in his second letter
to the Thessalonians. In his first epis-
tie in view of the second coming of
Christ, he urged the people to separate
themselves from the world. They had
given up their regular employment
and had gotten into mischief. In the
second epistle the Apostle says, For
we hear that there are some which
walk among you disorderly, working
not at'all, but spending their time as
busy bodies" Tire greatest problem
for the Christian man is to adjust him-
self to the callings and pursuits of
tbis life, that he may best serve God,
bis fellowman and the highest interest
of his own soul. 1t is the will Of God
for his people to engage in the ordina-
ry avocatious of this world that they
may earn an honest living and at the
same time show forth to the world the
saving and keeping power of Jesus
Christ. Though it is the will of God
for his people to engage in the bust
ness of this world. it can be seen that
there are certain limitations which
arise from our relations to God A
christian man cannot engage in any
business which win harm his fellow
man II he is in a business which is
honest and legitimate, Others will
share with him the benefits of that
business. If your gain means loss to
others, then your business is not the
business in which an honest man or
man can engage in. Note
now some of the incentives to business
activity.
"Thou shalt remember the Lord, thy
God, for he has given thee power to
get wealth.
The money making gift is from
God. The Apostle urges us to be dill
gent in business, fervent in Spirit,
serving the Lord. God has no patience
with Incidence and sloth. All thru
The Bible the stamp of Gods approval |
IS put upon industry. while His curse
,ver rests upon idleness 1t is Godlike
% work. Our Lord said. "The Faith
II worketh hitherto, and I work. !"
There is no place in Gods economy
or the idlers. Business activity brings
wealth, and this is an incentive which
,ught to appeal to the generation in
which we are living. Wealth ought to
20 desired by every man because
wealth is mighty factor iu the world
n which we live. Think what wealth
ian do for the individuak It can
rive opportunity to acquire high and
loble tastes 1t can give leisure for
tudy This in turn will cause the
mind to grow stronger and the charae-
er to grow nobler Think what
wealth can do for the family 1t can
urround our loved ones with good
looks; it can provide the highest cul-
ure for our children and make our
omes the center of an ennobling, re-
igious, social and intellectual circle.
'hink what wealth can do for the
hurch. The cause of Christ Is lan-
uishing all over the world because
here is not money sufficient to carry
n Christ's work to the glory of God.
his is true of all Christian denomina-
ions. May God prosper the people
nd then make them willing to lay
heir gold at his feet
Dear readers, I have told you of the
lory which comes with wealth, but
7ould be false to your highest inter
SITS If did not hold up before you
Dme of the awful perils which con-
ronts the man who makes great sue
ess in business tWhat shall it profit
man if he gain the whole world and
ose his own soul?" No man can gain
he whole world or milliontb part of
be world, but if he gained the whole
f it at the cost of his soul 1t would be
oalamitous bargain. The text simply
leans that in the effort to gain wealth
Iany forfeit their own souls.
The temptation is to neglect the
igher for the lower; to give up the