More Than Money

From the very opening of David’s reign one of his most cherished plans had been that of erecting a temple to the Lord. Though he had not been permitted to execute this design, he had manifested no less zeal and earnestness in its behalf. He had provided an abundance of the most costly material—gold, silver, onyx stones, and stones of divers colors; marble, and the most precious woods. And now these valuable treasures that he had collected must be committed to others; for other hands must build the house for the ark, the symbol of God’s presence.

Seeing that his end was near, the king summoned the princes of Israel, with representative men from all parts of the kingdom, to receive this legacy in trust. He desired to commit to them his dying charge and secure their concurrence and support in the great work to be accomplished….

“Who then,” he asked of the assembled multitude that had brought their liberal gifts—“who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord?” There was a ready response from the assembly….

With deepest interest the king had gathered the rich material for building and beautifying the temple. He had composed the glorious anthems that in afteryears should echo through its courts. Now his heart was made glad in God, as the chief of the fathers and the princes of Israel so nobly responded to his appeal, and offered themselves to the important work before them….

All that man receives of God’s bounty still belongs to God. Whatever God has bestowed in the valuable and beautiful things of earth is placed in the hands of men to test them—to sound the depths of their love for Him and their appreciation of His favors. Whether it be the treasures of wealth or of intellect, they are to be laid, a willing offering, at the feet of Jesus; the giver saying, meanwhile, with David, “All things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.
Conflict and Courage p. 185
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray that we can get approved to sell a certain product at work. Ron
—–B has an important interview today. Please pray that he gets the job if it is the Lord’s will. L
—–Please continue to pray for my nephew Daniel. The doctors are still baffled and now they are trying to get in with a natural type of doctor. It certainly could be an allergic reaction to something as many of you have mentioned. It could even be something that has not bothered him before, but now is! The main thing is getting some type of diagnosis, however, many times that is the most difficult call to make even if you are an educated doctor! Connie
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Dear Friends,
It was the first day of school after the Thanksgiving vacation in 1952. I was proudly wearing my new coat that my mother had bought me. It was a grayish-green wool and very warm—just what I needed for the cold winters of Michigan. I entered the second grade cloakroom and hung my coat on a hook alongside about 30 other coats, went to my desk, and sat down. Soon all thoughts of my coat vanished as Miss Kramer began teaching our lessons.

Soon it was time to go home for lunch. Some children had quite a ways to get home, but not me. All I had to do was walk across the street to my house. We all walked quietly to the cloakroom to get our coats. When I got there, however, I had a hard time finding my coat. It was the first time I had worn it, and I could not remember exactly what it looked like. After searching a bit, I found it. To my surprise there was a beautiful Christmas corsage pinned to it. I looked at that corsage and wondered how it had gotten there. In my seven-year-old imaginings, I thought that maybe my mother had tiptoed into the cloakroom while no one was looking and had pinned this surprise on my coat for me. It was such a wonderful thought that I felt like crying for joy!

Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain on my arm. To my horror, I saw someone’s fingernails making deep scratches on my forearm: one was so deep that it actually bled and left a scar which I had for many years. There stood a certain classmate. I was always a little afraid of this girl because she was so mean. Now here she was looking very angry and screaming at me about stealing her coat. Gradually, I realized that she and I must have the same kind of coat. I looked around. There on another hook not far away was my new coat. I told her that I was sorry and reached for my coat. Then she saw that we had matching coats and her anger melted a little.

How easy it is for us to become just as confused as I was that day. We may think that we know what is right, but we are so wrong. Solomon observed, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Prov 14:12 Jesus urges us, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Mat 7:13 ,14

The evil one is a master at deception. Peter reminds us of that fact. “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 He, Who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life warns, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matt 7:15 Then He explains how we can tell who is speaking truth. “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” 16-23

Isaiah give us another way to tell the genuine from the false, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa 8:20 How carefully we must test everything we hear, everything we see by the Word of God. How important it is to compare what is told us that the Bible says, with what it actually says. The Great Author of the Bible desires for us to gather all of the texts dealing with a certain subject in order to get the whole picture. “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, and there a little.” 28:9,10

May we pray for the Holy Spirit, Who guided those who wrote the Scriptures, to guide us in understanding them. (2 Peter 1:21) May we “study to show [ourselves] approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15 May we compare spiritual things with spiritual that we may understand the truth and not be led down the wrong path by the enemy who is out to destroy us. (1 Cor 2:13, Rev 12:12)

Rose