Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-18
Sunday School Lesson
Rev. Hugh T. Stevenson.

report, full Of the Holy Ghost" They
were ordained by the Apostles, whose
tact had succeeded in, removing q
threatening division They brought for
ward q new element In the life of the
early church. Although they were
chosen to give the Apostles more free
dom to preach. some Of this number
were destined to write their names as
preachers in the Hall Of Fame. Diff
ferences were removed and the poor
were cared for in Q systematic and
spiritual way.
Missionary Church's Gifts.
IN Paul's second letter to the Corin-
thians. we find paragraph that shows
how the Apostle to the Gentiles stirred
up the members Of that important Gen
tile church to give generously to help
support the poor in the Jerusalem
church. He cited the example of the
Macedonians. who had already made,
q year previous, their gifts to assist
the church in Jerusalem to bear their
burden in caring for the poor. He
planned to have representatives from
the Gentle churches carry the gifts
from these churches to the Jerusalem
brethren, as an evidence of their broth
".
told the Corinthian church that he did
not desire any member of the Macedon-
ian congregation, who might be with
him, when he came to find that they
had to make up the offering for the
poor after. the Apostle arrived. He
evidently had spoken to the Macedon-
ians so highly about the liberality OF
the Corinthians that the Apostle sug-
gests that he did not desire to be
ashamed of them and their method of
providing generously for the relief Of
the poor in Jerusalem.
The fact that the Jerusalem church
required assistance In Its social service
would indicate that there is q serious
danger In giving dole to the poor 1t
takes away ones independence and
should not be adopted except in emer-
gencies. Many economists have pointed
out the logical peril that socialism and
communism are apt to produce There
Is no danger in generous giving for
the relief of the distress among the ma
tons. If we fail to consider the needs
OF others, We will reap what We SOW
At the moment. while we may criticize
France. We must remember that Ger
manv Is reaping the results of the War
OF 1870 as we'll as the brunt Of suffer-
ing that fell not only upon Belgium,
but also France, in the World War
The worlds greatest need at this mo-
ment is the spirit of brotherhood. born
of faith In Christ Jesus, which was ex-
hibited by the church in Jerusalem and
Corinth.
Social service OF a missionary pro-
viding relief from suffering through
the lack of food, through the digging of
canals. was the forerunner of the great
ingathering in Ongole, India, when
thousands made their profession of
faith in Christ Jesus. Social service
played a prominent part in the pro-
gram Of those Christian democrats who
tried to win Germany for Christ 400
years ago II they had succeeded. the
World War would never have been
fought and We would not today be SUI
fering any industrial depression. A new
note Is being sounded in the business
world by men who have caught the
vision Of brotherhood and social serv-
ice. Great corporations should not exist
merely. they contend. for the purpose
Of paying dividends to the stockholders,
for they point out that the working
man ought to have a share. The old
age pension, sick relief and the various
forms Of modern industrial social serv-
ice reflects the influence Of the early
church that carried the principle OF
love into the affairs Of the church and
serves as our guide today in solving
the problems of the present hour. Let
us not forget how Jesus taught that
Ito give Is happier than to get" and
become hilarious givers for His glory
the development of His kingdom the
spread of the gospel of brotherhood
and love among all nations.