The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1940-09-27
THE USE AND ABUSE OF
WEALTH

WEALTH
LESSON TExT-Proverbs n:a<-si Luke
GOLDEN rExr-Lay up for yoursslve.
treasures In heaven.-Matthew $40.
Money-its making and using-is
q matter which constantly concerns
all of US as long as we live in this
world. 1t is the medium Of ex-
change whereby the labors of one
man may be exchanged for the la
bors OF another, in the purchase Of
goods and services. 1t may be used
to send a messenger to the ends of
the earth with the good news of
salvation or, on the other hand, 1t
may be the ready instrument to de-
stroy both body and soul Of those
who abuse it. Man may have mon
ey, and be blessing. or money may
have a man, and be curse.
I. The Right Spirit in the Use of
Money prov. ll:24-26).
What a man does with his money
is only reflection of what he is in
his inmost life. The spirit which
withholds unless there is a return
to itself in pleasure or profit is
selfish and ungodly spirit. To at
tempt to present ones self before
the world as follower of Christ
and to have that attitude toward
what one possesses is to deny by
ones acts the testimony of ones
lips.
Not all Scattering" ". 24) is
commendable. 1t is possible to be
careless and wasteful, and that nei-
ther honors God nor helps our fellow
men. Then, too, a man may scat
ter literally, as the farmer does
when he sows seed, knowing that he
will have a richer harvest for him
self. That is only different type Of
sellshness.
The man who knows God, that
giveth to all men literally" DANES
l:5), scatters not only his money,
but his riches of mind and spirit in
his life and service. He gives him.
self and what he has to God-and
to man as he serves God-and rich
Is his reward. In sad contrast is
the man who keeps his possessions
but finds that withal he has only
barren leanness of soul and life.
II. The Good and Bad Use oil
Money wv. 1920.
The man who looks for good find,
II, and the one who looks for trouble
finds that, too. That Is true In the
use OF money as well as elsewhere
In life. One way to end up in Ger.
tain disappointment Is to put your
trust in money, for, while it opens
many doors, 1t cannot open the door
to heaven, and, while 1t can buy
most things, it cannot buy health
and happiness. To seek good, seek
the Lord and His righteousness, and
you will flourish as a branch. "
You may not have the riches of this
earth, but you will prosper in those
things which are of eternal val
ue. You will be wise in the conduct
of the affairs of your own house
". 29) and life, because you are
wise Of heart"
HI. The Best Use of Money wv.
80, 81.
One Of Americas leading bust
ness analysts and statisticians said
some years ago that the best invest
ment OF funds was in the winning Of
souls to Jesus Christ. Had man ex-
pended the money which should
have gone for that purpose, at the
right time, we might have been
spared the spending of billions Of
dollars for war in these latter days.
He that is wise winneth souls"
". 80 r. W. "And they that be
wise shall shine as the brightness
OF the armament; and they that turn
many to righteousness, as the stars
for ever and ever" dan. 1879.
The glory that awaits the believer
in this life and in the life to come,
as well as the judgment which inev-
itably must fall on the sinner ".
BIZ, should urge us on in the winning
of souls. But even more than that,
the love of God, and 1.-THE love of
Christ" which "constraineth US" (II
Cor. $40, should cause us TO put
ourselves and our money into His
hands, to be used in the winning
of souls. Could there be any better
use of money?
Nv. Inc rest OF the Use OF Money
duke 16:ll-13).
Ultimately each one Of US must
give an account to God OF the man.
ner in which we have lived. These
verses and others indicate that one
of the matters for which we must
answer is the manner in which we
have used or abused the money or
other possessions with which God
has blessed us.
We are stewards, and only as we
demonstrate our faithfulness and
wisdom in the use of the Outright
eous mammon" ". ~; that Is, the
money of this world, can God en-
trust US neither here or in the world
TO come with His true riches.
Let US be very clear about this
point today. II does make q vital
difference TO your spiritual life how
you regard money. You cannot sep
srste your life into compartments,