Arizona sun., 1947-09-05
BY WILLIAM CULBERTSON, d. d.
of The Moody Bible Institute, Chicago.

~ D BELIEVERS IN CnTlSt we dIe
A responsible not only for the
way we earn our living, but for the
way we spend what we earn.
Of course we must earn our living
honestly, but if we spend foolishly
that which we have earned, we
shall have dissipated much OF the
effect of our example in earning.
Possessions are a trust from
God, and we shall have to render
an account of our stewardship.
Just because we have given a
certain percentage of our income to
Christian causes is no reason to
think we shall meet with divine
appreciation with regard to our
stewardship. If we give a tithe,
well and good, but what about the
other nine-tenths? Is God pleased
with our stewardship there?
1. The Vanity of Wealth (Eccles.
$40, I'D.
IN ANY study of wealth, it seems
1 necessary to begin with an un-
derstanding of its limitations. We
live in a world in which msf1 fire.
quently lay great importance on
possessions, and indeed, there are
many things which wealth can pur-
chase. On the other hand, there are
some things that money cannot
buy. And further, we should recog-
nize that our possessions are not
eternal, that they may suddenly
fade away.
The passage here reminds us of
the fact that wealth for wealth's
sake is bound to be disappOint-
ment. The man who loves silver
shall not be satisfied with silver,
any more than the man who loves
pleasure shall be satisfied with
pleasure. Augustine was right
when he said that man could be
satisfied with no less than God
himself.
Notice how accurately the picture
is drawn. If we have increased
wealth, we have increased response
bility ". ID. That fact is as un-
alterable as the most rigid law we
know. The only advantage is, as the
Preacher expresses it, the behold
ing of goods with the eye-not a
very great advantage after all.
ii. The Proper Accumulation Of
Wealth (Prov. 16:8.
IT is just as true as when Solo
mon wrote 1t, that ''Better is q
little, with righteousness, than
great revenues with injustice"
This statement needs no argu-
ment, needs no proof. II we would
have the honor of men, self-respect,
and the blessing of God. there is no
alternative.
III. The Improper Accumulation
of Wealth (James 5:1-6).
THE apostle James speaks of a
u condition that will obtain in the
last days ". -. There are many
evidences that the condition he de-
scribes has had altogether too
many fulillments in recent history.
James excoriates the rich who
have defrauded their employees in
order that they might fare sunp-
tuously and live riotously. These un-
scrupulous rich have taken advan-
tage because they were not resisted
". g.. Such wealth is corrupted
Notice once again that the re-
suit of their sin will rise to break
them. 1t is a serious thing to
trifle with sin, to eat the bread of
iniquity. God has no patience with
injustice in social relationships.
Sooner or later judgment will
come.
Nv. The Proper Use of Wealth
prov. 11:24-2O.
7 IBERALITY should character.
- ize the child of God. It is true
that the Bible condemns the atti.
tude of innprudence, yet it also con-
OC1AlA4S Vic QCI1LQOC VI IAAS L11oCA. IL
withhold more than is meet, also
tends to want.
How blessedly true it is that there
is recompense to giving. Here we
read that the one who waters shall
himself be watered. Our Lord af.
6rmed the same truth in Luke 6:38
To have it within our power to
help, and fail to do so, is to bring
upon ourselves censure and con-
demnatiOn. Therefore, we should
seek to perform the good ". 21.
This passage concludes with the
statement that one who searche:
after evil shall find that evil will
come to him. The man who sets hi:
heart to do wrong will not have tt
wait long to find the occasion to dt
that which is in his heart.
Many are the injunctions in the
New Testament regarding the
proper use Of wealth. For example
the Christian has duty toward hi.
own family Il Tim. $50. He is en-
joined to be sympathetic and gen
erous in his giving to help Others
uI Cor. 8:8-15). Certainly he is t.
dispense his goods with the glory q
God in view (cf. Col. 3:1O.