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Christ’s Object Lessons
themselves. Only by imparting God’s gifts in the present life could
they provide for eternity.
After relating the parable, Christ said, “The children of this world
are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” That is, worldly-
wise men display more wisdom and earnestness in serving themselves
than do the professed children of God in their service to Him. So it was
in Christ’s day. So it is now. Look at the life of many who claim to be
Christians. The Lord has endowed them with capabilities, and power,
and influence; He has entrusted them with money, that they may be
co-workers with Him in the great redemption. All His gifts are to be
used in blessing humanity, in relieving the suffering and the needy.
We are to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to care for the widow
and the fatherless, to minister to the distressed and downtrodden. God
never meant that the widespread misery in the world should exist. He
never meant that one man should have an abundance of the luxuries
of life, while the children of others should cry for bread. The means
over and above the actual necessities of life are entrusted to man to do
good, to bless humanity. The Lord says, “Sell that ye have, and give
alms.”
Luke 12:33
. Be “ready to distribute, willing to communicate.”
1 Timothy 6:18
. “When thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed,
the lame, the blind.”
Luke 14:13
. “Loose the bands of wickedness,”
“undo the heavy burdens,” “let the oppressed go free,” “break every
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yoke.” “Deal thy bread to the hungry,” “bring the poor that are cast out
to thy house.” “When thou seest the naked, ... cover him.” “Satisfy
the afflicted soul.”
Isaiah 58:6, 7, 10
. “Go ye into all the world, and
preach the gospel to every creature.”
Mark 16:15
. These are the Lord’s
commands. Are the great body of professed Christians doing this
work?
Alas, how many are appropriating to themselves the gifts of God!
How many are adding house to house and land to land. How many are
spending their money for pleasure, for the gratification of appetite, for
extravagant houses, furniture, and dress. Their fellow beings are left
to misery and crime, to disease and death. Multitudes are perishing
without one pitying look, one word or deed of sympathy.
Men are guilty of robbery toward God. Their selfish use of means
robs the Lord of the glory that should be reflected back to Him in
the relief of suffering humanity and the salvation of souls. They are
embezzling His entrusted goods. The Lord declares, “I will come near
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