Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-11-04

strictly speaking, "house OF the
Lord" such as was the Jewish temple,
yet the condition of many Of our
churches would indicate great i'm
difference to the cause of the king
dom. Our bodies are indeed
temple" q Cor. 3:16; 6:19) and both
the body and church buildings alike
should be kept in proper condition.
III. Liberality. vs. s.15. The plan
to- have the priests gather funds for
the repairs was scriptural. (Exod.
25: 2-S) God does not look upon the
measure but upon the motive of our
gifts. e Cor. S:l2). The priests did
not "hasten the matter" so the king
took it into his own hands ". %. In
this remissness Jehoiada. as the
chief priest, is held accountable for
all ". ~.
We have in this story rich suC
gestinn as to Gods plan Of Christian
giving. lD The Object. 1t was dis
tin?t'y for the glory of God and not
TO outbid others or to wastefully use
the money for selfish purposes. (2)
All were TO participate voluntarily,
out of their abundance (2 Chron. "a.
10Y, Systematically and faithfully.
(3) The Results were House re-
paired g Chron. 24:l2). beautiful
q Chron. 2i:i3), and worship re-
stored (2 Chron. 24:lI. Joash seems
TO have laid great emphasis upon the
Tabernacle of witness" t"A:6) and we
need TO recall that each and every
part of that tcnlr'e Was testimony
to the truth Of God and had in it
spiritual suggestion and prophecy.
AS whole, it suggested that God
sons of Athaliah (Joash' grand
mother), had SO conducted themselves
as to cause it to need repairing t2
Chron. A:7). When we turn to =
Chron. 24:8-l4 and read the record OF
the restoration of the temple. We dis
cover t1) Each had his part in the
work. (2) Each did perfect" work,
e. g. did his task faithfully, fully and
to a finish. (3) Each did an orderly
work. "in his state" None sought 10
supplant or defraud others in the
work assigned. (4) Each did strong
work, it was strengthened and not
a trifling work AS men-pleaseIs or for
the moment. go Each worked eco
nomically because when all bills we're
paid, money Was returned To the
treasury.
What marked contrast with
modern methods of conducting pablo
improvements. There was great iov
in the hearts of both princes and
people as they brought and wrought
We rob ourselves b! Withholding. f"r
where your treasure is, there sill
your heart be also"
There is sound philosophy in
Proverbs ll:24, 30. That class.
church or individual that lyeth unto
itself will soon die. Ii nay have n
name that is great in the earth but
that name will not abide In giving
We get; in serving, we increase
Here is also suggestion how 70
raise church finances. The world is
a past master in the art OF amusing
and can discount many times over the
cheap entertainments so frequently
used to wheedle change from the un-
wary. No wonder church treasures
are so aften empty for we do not give
value received by any such methods
Try more prayer and like Joash, give
the people chance and there will be
no lack.
Again, note that they dealt faith
fully" " Wa mood tn eyerciSe f.itbf full
ness in our relations to God and in the
use of that which He intrusts to onr
stewardship. Man and God alike
will have confidence in us according
to the method whereby we receive and
eXpend money. These funds were
expended in businesslike way (v. IL,
II. Chron. 24:1D, and this doubt
less added much to the size of the
gifts.