The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1957-10-10
One Man Looks
At God
(By Charles w. Carlson, Pastor,
st. Marks Evangelical Lutheran
Church, Oakland Maryland)

Among the teachings of Christ,
there are many one sentence state
ments that he makes that are won
derful in their simple clarity. and
insight into the needs and tempta-
lions of man. During the next few
weeks, | will treat some of these
l"Christian Proverbs" The first one
, is recorded in Matthew GIG, 20:
Do not lay up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moth and
rust consume and where thieves
break in and steal, but lay up for
yourselves treasures in heaven
where neither moth nor rust con-
sumes and where thieves do not
break in and steal
Many men would sarcastically
say to this statement that they need
not worry about this problem. be-
cause they have no way of laying
up any treasure, for after their
bills are paid, there is nothing left.
This may indeed be true for some,
but it is not only the rich people
who have money left that lay up
treasures on earth. They may be
the worst offenders, but most every
man has some plans for retire
ment benefits, either through social
security or his own insurance or
other investments. And the ques-
ton here is not over the wisdom of
a man preparing himself for the
years when he cannot work, for
there is no sin in a mans efforts
not to be a burden on society in
his waning years But the point
here is the fact that too many
people apparently think that the
only thing that they have to pre-
pare for is their retirement. when
as a matter of fact. many will never
! get to the age when they can use
these treasures that they have
stored up, and with no treasures
in store in heaven, their outlook
in the eternal life is pretty dim
They may have cared well fol
their material benefits, but as foi
their spiritual life, they continually
put it off "'til tomorrow" when
for them they meet their Maker
before they are ready. When VIC
think in terms of practical
Christianity, l wonder how many
men give as much money in years
time to the work of the Kingdom
of God as they do to their retire
ment plans.
1t is not ali money however. for
Christian stewardship is an area
that covers all parts Of mans
life Again we ask the question
how does the time we spend in oul
secular work of providing for bread
and meat stack up with the time
we have spent in works of love, OF
the strengthening of our spiritual
life Along these lines. too many
people Judge a sermon not on the
quality of the spiritual instruction
| given. but on how long the sermon
has been, with grOaning com
plant if the sermon happens tc
lrun a little longer than expected
Il don't have time" is the answer
that many church gets when she
asks her members to do a little
something, and this is the answer
of the vast majority.
Again we draw attention to
Christ's statement: Do not lay up
for yourselves treasures on earth
where moth and rust consume, and
where thieves break in and steal
but lay up for yourselves treasures
in heaven, where neither moth nor
rust consumes and where thieves
do not break in and steal" Take
stock of your kfe-see where your
treasure is-for as he also says
Where your treasure is, there will
your heart be also"