The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-28

un6eserving as we'll as the deserving,
with never thought about whence
their dinners were to come during the
remainder of the winter Ono social
workers put it thus: Most of this
giving is subjective. The pleasure
that it imparts to the giyer is a larger
factor than the good 1t may do the
recipient. Anybody is willing to give
dollar for the glow of heart which
comes from feeling ones self a philan-
thropist. The pleasure is cheap at the
price Too cheap, indeed. 1 once
knew a very wealthy woman to change
buy a paper from an old woman whose
misery appealed to her-and she
thought she was charitable. That
complacency was bought at too low
price. Real helpfulness costs more,
in a higher currency than gold or
silver or copper. Peter and John were
not buying bargains in self-satisfac-
ton.
1t BefeIl by the Way.
Most of the pleasures and oppor-
tunities of life are wayside experiences
We start somewhere-and suddenly
find on the way that which is more
important than our original objective.
Saul once went looking for livestock
and found a crown. Jacob got wife
when he sought a drink of water. This.
episode, of the lame man at the
beautiful gate of the temple, who was
healed by Peter and John, befelI by
the way.
Just as churches today are work
ed by professional mendicants, be-
cause Christians do most of the worlds
giving, so the professional beggar in
this story had his post; or pitch" by
the gate of the temple through which
people went to worship. The apostles
were on their way. to 8 o'clock prayers;
it was the hour of the daily sacrifice,
and, to them more significant the
hour of the crucifixion of their Mas
ter. Please observe that these new
Christians had not got too good for the
old church. Until their own organiZa-
tions were formed, and engrossed their
time, the early Christians observed
the worship of temple and synagogue.
So by the way, as they went forward
mediatin of cenversing upon the
theme shat was 'uppermoSt in their
thoughts, they met this poor man.
Their thoughts We're never so high
that they could not see the needs of
earth: their Master had trained them
otherwise.
Probably the apostles had often
seen this beggar before. He was as
much one of the sights of the temple
vicinity as are the lepers who today
sit by the road between Jerusalem
joy and power was in the hearts of the
apostles. They had received the Gift
which makes all it's recipients givers.
So when the whining, wailing cry of
the professional D6SSaT reacn6Q their
ears, Peter and John did not turn
from it in disgust, with cries of
"Grafter.' They had learned that
"God is kind to the evil and the I'M
thankful" They had learned from the
Master who had come to call not the
righteous, but sinners to repentance,
that Gas the Father hath sent me- so
send you" Not mans deserving but
mans need, should prompt loves Civ
ing.
Giving What We've Got.
Like a good many other Christians
since, Peter and John were poor At
| the moment they were without a mite.
They could not have answered the
/ beggar's plea if they had wanted to
1 do so. 1t would be interesting to re-
call right here how dependent the
world has ever been upon those who
have been poor in goods, but rich in
! faith. Some persons who will read
/ these lines are greatly troubled about
their poverty. They are in good COM
I pany, as they study this lesson. Lack
of wealth never has been a real han
| dicap to usefulness in the kingdom.
Serve the world with what you have
and if you have got only money,
give money, which is the poorest form
of ministry; but if you've got love and
sympathy, give that. There is more
of help to be given this needy world
from eyes and lips and hands than
from bank books.
One of the really serious blunders
which the church of today is making
is the way in which she exaIts the
merely rich member. Nowadays the
term, leading laymen," usually means
merely rich man. He may not be
in the slightest degree a leader or
an initiator or a great server. 1t is a
| blunder to make a mans bank ac-
count. or his worldly standing, the
measure of his worth to the church.
BY these popular standards, Peter and
John would not even be mentioned
among those present. at a religious
convention.
An old but pertinent story pictures
one eccesiastic as saying to another
with pride, mo longer can the church
say, like Peter, Silver and gold have
L none.'" No" tartIy responded the
other; neither can she say with Pc
ter. Rise up and waikiki"
In a day when whole denominations
and congregations are para1yzed by
their veneration of wealth, it is whole
some to recall the apostles who could
give only their hand and the gospel to
the needy. Peter took the lame man S
hand, as he had seen Jesus do He
touched the person whom he would
help. He impaired of himself Many
a rich man will write a check for
poor people whom he would not touch.
Used as they were to sensations
the apostles found themselves embar-
raised by the tumult created by the
! miracle wrought by their Gift upon
this poor man, who was more sadly
crippled in his spirit than in his legs.
The man had received new power in
mis- feet and ankle bones, as Dr. Luke
Enthusiastically points out. More
than that, though, he had received
new joy in his heart and new power
in his life; and it set him to leapine
and shouting, regardless of conven-
tionalities. He could not help praising
God His emancipation was spiritual,
more than physical.
OF course, the church is more than
a hospital. All who would make of
Christianity a sort of sanctified health
insurance miss its real significance.
The church has a real mission to
mems bodies, but it is primarily by
vUaN of their S1ni1.itc Thu font