Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1915-11-04

SOLDEN lOyeth q cheerful
giver.-H Cor. 81.
The time of this lesson was about
1878 B. c.. and it follows within a few
years last Sundays lesson. Inaugu-
rated as king and instructed by Q
faithful priest, yet Joash discovered
great lethargy on the part of the
priestly class with regard to the house
OF God. He set himself to arouse great
hberality and to repair the temple.
l., .letharey, v. 4, 8. "a Its cause.
We should read in this connection II
Chron. "a. From the two accounts
and the previous history of the ma
ton we conclude that the condition
OF the temple was due. (a) to the
weak and frequently vicious charac-
tiers Of the rulers of the nation; ID
to the evil companions of both princes
and priests and (c) to the cupidity Of
court and curate. (2) The result Of
this lethargy regarding Gods cause
was evidenced (a) upon the temple,
and ID upon the lives of the people
of the kingdom. (3) The cure. Joash
Instituted great reforms in Judah and
In these Jehoiada the priest ". p had
no small part. In this particular les
son the prince ". y seems to lead
the priest. Unfortunately the godly
priest did not long survive the crown
ing of Joash and hence when he came
under other influences he soon went
back to the evil practices of his prede-
cessors and his reign ended in an
eclipse Of evil CI Chron. ~24:15-26).
In this lesson we have, however. q
suggestion of what Is needed to cur
religious lethargy. (a) A vision Of
the real condition of affairs ". Z;
also II Chron. 24:D. Joash saw the
resultant ruin of the temple after
is years Of misrule; he also saw
the misconduct Of the priests and
did not hesitate to call them to
account. 'Tis no easy task to I'M
dertake a reformation and restoration
such as this; witness Moses, Luther,
Wesley and Cary. These priests had
aided him to gain his throne and
doubtless had had a part in his boy
training. Joash had inaugu-
certain reforms before he be-
gan this task which suggests tie Sec
ond need Of (b) persistence (see I
Chron. PASS. g.. Such work also de-
mands (c) systematic effort and CIV
ing. Joash placed himself among Is
rael's best kings by undertaking the
restoration of the temple and won =
place alongside Of Hezekiah and Jo-
siah. Modern churches are not, strict
ly speaking, "a housa of the Lord"
such as the Jewish temple, yet the
condition of many Of our churches
would indicate great Indifference to
the cause of the kingdom. Our bod
les are indeed a temple" / Cor. g.:
16: GID and both the body and
church buildings alike should be Kept
n proper condition.
u. LiberaIity, VS.. els. The plan to
have the priests gather funds for the
was Scriptural. tExod. rs:
2-S) God does not look upon the
measure but upon the motive Of our
gifts (II Cor. S:12). The priests did
not hasten the matter so the king
took it into his own hands ". 81.
this remissness Jehoiada, as the
chief priest, is held accountable for
al ". y.
We have in this story a rich sug.
as to Gods plan Of Christian
% The object. 1t vas dis
for the glory of God and not
outbid others or to wastefully use
he money for selfish purposes. ~
All we're to participate voluntarily.
,ut Of their abundance III Chron.
Systematically and faithfully.
l3) The results were a house repaired
II Chron. 2t:12), beautiful (II Chron.
with the worship restored (T
chron. 24:14). Joash seems to have
aid great emphasis upon the ''taber-
lacle of witness" (24:6) and we need
20 recall that each and every part
If that temple was a testimony to tho
ruth of God and had in 1t a spiritual
and prophecy. AS a whole.
i suggested that God dwelt in the
midst of his people. The sons Of
Athaliah (Joash's grandmother had
30 conducted themselves as to cause
t to need repairing III Chron. 24:O.
When We turn to II Chron. PASTA and
lead the record of the restoration OF
he temple, we discover: % Each
lad its part in the work. (2) Each
lid a perfect work, e.. g, did his
ask faithfully, fully and to a finish.
80 Each did an orderly work. in his
None sought to supplant or
others In the work assigned.
Al Each did a strong work. it was
strengthened" and not a triiling work
IS men-pleasers or for the moment.
81 Each worked economically be-
when all bills were paid, money
vas returned to the treasury.
What a marked contrast with mod
,rn methods of conducting public i'm
,rovements! There was great Joy in
he hearts Of both princes and people
IS they brought and wrought. We
OBJ ourselves by our Withholding, for
where your treasure is. there wili
'our heart be also"
There is sound philosophy in
Proverbs 11:2i. rs. That class, church
,r individual that iiveth unto itself
will soon die. 1t may have a name
hat is great in the earth but that
lame will not abide. In giving we
ret; IN serving. we increase. Here Is
llso a suggestion how to raise church
inances.
The world is a past master in the
Irt Of amusing and can discount many
lines over the cheap entertainments