The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-06

to negative laws such as chou shalt
not steaP' and thou shalt not kill. AS
/ have said, no one would, consider
himself moral if he were a thief or a
murderer, yet men violate these higher
positive laws with apparently little COM
junction of conscience. A mans life,
morally and religiously,, is fairly de-
termined by the proper or improper en-
ployment of his time, his talents and
his money. God has not failed to very
clearly and accurately define these du-
ties and the laws, though somewhat diff
ferently stated, are none the less as
mandatory as 'thou shalt not steaP and
thou shalt not kill" t4s-
The proper or improper use of time
produces industry or idleness-=thrift or
vagabondism. The proper or improper
use of talents produces success or fail
ure. The proper or improper use. of
money produces a spendthrift, a miser
or benefactor. Combine in one person
atty, if you please, the failure to con-
slider the positive laws regarding the
use of time, money and talents. A more
despicable character could scarcely be
pictured in human life than. an idle
spendthrift with his school, of vices,
or selfish miser into whose hands
money has fallen, and who clutches it
with a coyetOus grip and who though
talented declines to use any powers or
opportunities that he has for the benez
fit of society. On the other hand man
who by constant and vigorous industry
is using all the forces that God has
given him to their nth power and who
with full sense of the obligation of
stewardship is touching the needy spots
with a broad Christian benevolence; is
one of the supreme characters lhonored
of men and commended of God. The
difference, therefore, between a con-
temptible bundle of nothingness and a
superb character lies in the observance
or nonobservance of the positive laws
concerning the use of time, talent and
money. As a problem of society, there
is more hope for the thief and, the MUIR
derer than, for one who has failed to
observe Gods positive commands rela-
tive to the above vital elements of char
acter. A man who, under a. particular
stress or peculiar circumstance, should
commit a murder or theft, has more
possibilities for good will and honesty
than the man who has lapsed into per-
manent, continuous and ;immoyable state
of idleness, vagrancy,and misefelness in
the face of constant appeal for higher
things. Why the moral and religious
world have undervalHed these higher,
richer and more important laws known
as the positive" laws is difficult to
conceive. Is it not worth while for us
to emphasize these long and fatally neg
lected demands for high conduct and
lofty character?
Let US for a moment put Gods stand
ard, Gods measuring rod, Gods cal
endar to our time, and find wherein
we are criminals. The wise spreacher
commands Whatsoever thy hand find
eth to do, do it with all thy might for
there is no work, no device, nor knowl-
edge nor wisdom in the grave whittier
thou goest" (Eec. 9:10). Here is the
lofty appeal to us to use the brief span
of life IN the best possible way Again
the preacher commands 9He that
observeth the wind shall not SOW and
he that regardeth the f,Glouds, shall not
reap. In the morning SOW thy seed
and in the evening withhold not thine
hand for thou knowest not whether
shall prosper either this or that or
whether they both alike shalFb be good"
Here is the demand to face difficulties,
to overcome little things like wind"
and clouds" and unfavorable circum-
stances. to use to the highest power
the full day, the morning and evening
and to scatter continually the golden
seed for the coming harvest, leaving to
God the success of the harvest whether
s0wn in the morning or the evening.
The Psalmist cries, MY times are in
thy hand" That is whether I shall
live long or die. soon is matter with
God. should accept every hour as
a gift and use it as a trust.""s
Scriptures could be multiplied de-
manding of, US the wise and lawful
use of our time. From the earliest
worship Sabbath has been observed
One day in seven is taken from our
calendar and given to God. 1t is not
our right or prerogative to say how
we shall use this day. 1T is the Sab
bath of the Lord thy God" We re-
ceive the other six as trust to be
conscientiously divided between our
own interest and the interests of our
Masters Kingdom. The New Tesla
ment statement that the Sabbath was
made for man and not man for the
Sabbath does in no wise change the
law and Gods ownership in the sew
enth of our time. The horse is not
made for the harness but the harness
Lis made for the horse that he may be
properly adjusted to his duty and aided
in his task of moving the wagon.
Though God holds the title to the day
and reserves the right to indicate how
it is to be observed, yet He has set the
Sabbath like all of his laws for the good
of His laws for the good of, his crea-
lures. The rest, worship and medita-
ton of the Sabbath are for mans good
the Sabbath was made for man. . a
No commands of God are better de-
fined. fnller iIlnstra ted or more llrcnnt