Text: "And they spake unto Moses, saying, ‘The People bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the Lord commanded to make.’ And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, ‘Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary.’ So the people were RESTRAINED from bringing. For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much." --Exodus 36:5-7

Very few churches or other Christian works have ever had the experience of having to RESTRAIN the liberality of the saints. That deep-rooted idolatry called "covetousness" seems to be the last stronghold to be conquered by our love and devotion to our God. For this reason it is important that we examine our attitudes and our convictions regarding the proper use of our money.

THE CHRISTIAN AND HIS PURSE

I. The Ministry and Secular Employment

There has been in the last century an attempt to eradicate the line of demarcation between the "Secular" and the "Sacred". How in one sense of the word there is no difference, for as Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. used to say, "...To the Christian, everything is sacred." This is true. It is a sacred function for a mother to change her infant’s dirty diapers, and to wipe his runny nose. But who is he that will not acknowledge the difference between washing a sink full of dirty dishes and teaching a Bible class? As many as have cared to argue ever so vehemently against this idea have always been ready to acknowledge the difference between being a Christian farmer and a Christian preacher, for even God’s Word calls the ministry a "high calling", and the Apostles Paul and Peter regularly speak of their "call" to their office of apostleship.

The early church also made a distinction when it was murmured their widows were neglected. To this charge the "Twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them and said, ‘It is not REASON we should leave the WORD OF GOD and serve tables. Wherefore brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. BUT WE WILL GIVE OURSELVES CONTINUALLY TO PPAYER AND TO THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD." (Acts 6:1-4) It was more important for them to devote themselves to the Scriptures and to prayer. A CHIEF REASON FOR THE WOEFUL STATE 0F THE CHURCH TODAY IS THAT THERE ARE TOO FEW WILLING T0 SO DEVOTE THEMSELVES TO THE WORD OF GOD AND PRAYER. Why? Chiefly because they are swallowed up in the materialism of the age. They want to have things like everyone else. Hear the Word--

"And straitway (Peter and Andrew) FORSOOK THEIR NETS, and followed (Christ)." Mark 1:18 Notice that when called by the Master, they LEFT their secular employment of commercial fishing. They took it up again only when they were in the Slough of Despond following the crucifixion. (See: John 21). The Saviour at this point rebukes Peter who had led the other disciples into this new fishing venture, and told him three times to busy himself by feeding His sheep.

"NO man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." --II Timothy 2:4. It was considered such a high privilege to be chosen as a soldier in the Roman army, that soldiers sought to please well their commanders.

Roman soldiers were not allowed an "outside job". They could not run a "sandal shop" on the side or be a part-time farmer. They were to be wholly at the disposal of their commander. And shall soldiers show such dedication to the governments of this world and shall the ministers of God be any less dedicated to their Commander?

"But did not Paul make tents?" Inevitably this question rises, but rarely is it ever examined with care. "After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; and found a certain Jew named Aquilla born in Pontus, lately come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome.) And came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation, they were tent-makers," --Acts 18:1-3

All Jewish boys were instructed in the synagogue in the Scriptures and in some craft. Paul had early learned the craft of tent making. Now compare Acts 20:33-35: "I have coveted no man’s silver or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, AND TO THEM THAT WERE WITH ME. I have showed you all things, how that so laboring, ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’"

The city of Corinth had been wholly consumed in idleness and with the immoralities associated with it. Paul left them the same example as he left the Ephesian Christians: "Let him that stole, steal no more: but rather let him labor with his hands the thing which is good, THAT HE MAY HAVE TO GIVE TO HIM THAT NEEDETH." --Ephesians 4:29.

Note again the 34th verse of Acts chapter 20 --how that Paul ministered to his own needs AND TO THEM THAT WERE WITH HIM. Observe that he did not tell them to "get a job;" instead, he ministered unto their necessities because he knew how to make tents.

A very real problem with so many pastors today is that they have never learned from the Apostle Paul who said, "I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be CONTENT."

Philippians 4:11b.

IN THE NEXT ISSUE: "What is meant by ‘providing for one’s family?’" "Should a pastor own his home?" And, "If it is proper for pastors to ‘forsake their nets’ then whose duty is it to care for them?"

JUNE

19, 1878 --New Jersey. Charles Hodge dies. As a young man, he studied abroad under Neander, Tholuck, and Hengstenberg. According to his biographer, Mr. Francis Patton, "He lived in the midst of his children and grandchildren; and when the last moment came, they gathered around him. ‘Dearest,’ he said to one of his daughters, ‘Don’t weep. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. To be with the Lord is to see Him. To see the Lord is to be like Him.’"

20, 1782 --Washington D.C. The American Seal is approved by Congress and contains the "Eye of God" directly above the pyramid. The words "Annuit Coeptis" signify, "He hath favored our undertaking.

20, 1888 --South Africa. At Durban, Natal, Bishop John William Colenso dies. In 1863, Bishop Gray of Cape Town put him on trial for heresy and deposed him. Bishop Colenso had impugned the authority of the Pentateuch by denying their historical accuracy and authorship.

22, 1633 --Italy. Having endured the tedious ordeal of a trial by the Inquisition for having taught the Copernican view of the solar system as opposed to the view of Ptolemy, Galileo is today forced to adjure his scientific data on bended knees and upon threat of torture.

27, 1819 --Burma. Adoniram Judson has labored here for six years. Today he baptizes Moung Nau, the first Burmese convert. In 1828, the first member of a hill tribe called the "Karens" will be baptized. The Karens had a tradition that once they knew the true God, and that foreigners would again restore to them this lost knowledge and the book containing it.