Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-11-06
JOASH REPAIRS THE TEMPLE-H Kings II ri to 1916
Golden Text-God loveth cheerful gver.-II Cor 81.

pieces Of gold and silver for assess
ments. redemption OF personal pledges,
the poll or head tax Of one-half shekel
and the free will offerings were not
sufficient in amount to complete the
restoration of the breeches in the walls
of the temple and the plans of restora-
ton. 1t required time to change the
character and the attitude Of the nation
worshiping at some other place than
the temple. the poverty of the people,
and possible divisions among the
priests themselves may have been some
OF the other elements that hindered
the work Of repairing the temple up to
the hour when Joash took the work out
OF the hands Of the priests and insti-
tuted his popular peoples plan.
+ X X
Popular Peoples Plan.
The first element in the plan sought
to remove any suspicion that the peo-
pie might have had against the priests
This was done by the kings request
for them to set apart for improving
longed to them for their use. There is
no evidence or Indication that the
priests were guilty of pilfering or en-
bezzling any of the funds. but it is ap-
parent that the people probably con-
sidered that they thought merely Of
themselves. A self-centered priest
hood could never gain the support Of
the people whom they pretended to
serve. The sacrifices made by the
priests proved they were not self
sacrifices made by the priests went a
long way toward securing the gifts
needed. Without their gifts being
made known to the people # would not
have been possible to have successfully
provided the means, men and methods
that were needed to provide the money
for the restoration of the temple.
The work was placed upon laymen,
and system was devised to safeguard
the funds secured. The unselfshness
actions are always contagious. Liberal
giving always inspires others when
they know that their gifts are safe
guarded. The system provided for a
voluntary offering from the people who
re1oiced when they gave toward the
cause by dropping their donation into
the chest. When this was filed the
priests carried the chest from the
courts of the temple into the kings
office, where it was counted and placed
in bags to be paid out for supplies or
wages to the men who worked to re-
store the temple.
The character of me men engaged in
the work of restoration was excellent.
The one who works today seeking to
restore Gods temple in the hearts of
men should be clean in heart, consist
ent in life and conscientious in labor
for Christ and His church. The appeal
to the faithful. the separation of the
funds, the placing of the chest in the
temple courts and the Introduction of
system and the impetus given by the
sacrince OF the servants Of God quickly
secured the funds and brought to pass
, the temples restoration.
The success that followed the division
OF funds by the priests points out the
pain OF success for many a struggling
church. Most of the failures In church
HE and In Christian effort has been
the gospel of the Christ has refused to
share with others. A church that will
not give for missions will pass away.
Many Christian has failed In business
because he did not do business as God
desires us to do for His glory. Until
we conduct the affairs of our daily life
as stewards of God we will all fail.
The greatest lesson that can be
taught from the study this week is that
o. sseW yards D. We are trustees Of
what we please with what is not our
own. We must seek first the kingdom
of God and His righteousness. then He
Will provide for us the things that we
need We must not forget that there
Is that scattereth and increaseth yet
more: and there Is that withholdeth
! more than Is meet but 1t tendeth only
to want"
ANY successful method OF finance must
seek the glory of God and the need of
men before there comes any considera-
ton of self. II we do not adopt such a
policy we will not receive the divine
blessing. There will be no want II we
trust God and do His will. There will
| always be sufficient on hand to meet
| the needs of the kingdom IL all of the
| followers of the Christ would give a
| 1.-THE of all their income to the Lords
work. The crying need for, funds would
cease If we all adopted a correct system
| of giving.
The church of Christ, that has made
such wonderful progress in America
| because of the part taken by laymen In
| the affairs of their respective churches
| would go forward by leaps and bounds
| If all of the gifted laymen enrolled In
| the army of the Lord would consecrate
their executive talents toward enlarg-
| ing the work of Christ and His church
We all need to learn that God loveth a
| hilarious giver and then to give JOY
fully for the Lords work and the ex-
tension Of His kingdom.