EXPENDITURES FOR WORSHIP.
By G.
CHRISTIANS sometimes feel that they are too often called upon for means to support the worship of God. If they would reflect upon the vast expenditure for the worship of false gods, the waste of effort and of means for the support of institutions that are against the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they would realize that the calls for His cause are comparatively very light. A little comparison with the enormous expense of heathenism would demonstrate the words of Christ, “My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” A little thought on this line would convince the most skeptical that Christ’s burden is “light,” even from a financial view, altho the covenant is one of sacrifice. A sacrifice that yields an abundant return is truly but an investment. “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break thru nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” History is prolific of accounts of enormous expenditures for the support of heathen worship, both by States and by individuals. Notable in the way of temples was that of Diana at Ephesus, to which contributions were made by all the provinces of Asia. The Mohammedan, Buddhist, and Hindu religions are especially noted for extravagant drafts upon the people and governments which sustain them, for financial support. And Catholicism, in those countries where the State is under the control of the church, is equally extortionate in its demands for contributions. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” While the Christian must realize that he is “bought with a price”—an enormous price, even the blood of the Son of God—and therefore his obligation can not be estimated, his offerings are to be voluntary, and not to be demanded or in any wise extorted by any earthly power. Every servant is amenable only to his master (Rom. 14:4), and every child of God is the servant of God. “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Verse 12. Among the vast expenditures for the support of heathenism is a structure in the island of Java—the temple of Borobodo. This great domed structure is erected on an elevated site. The “American Encyclopedia” says:— It is a connected series of terraced walls, composed of seven tiers, one above another, and all surmounted by a triple circle of 72 towers surrounding the dome. It is 620 feet square, and rises to a height of about 100 feet. The walls are profusely ornamented with sculpture. Wallace says that the amount of human labor and skill expended on the great pyramids of Egypt sinks into insignificance when compared with that required to complete this sculptured hill temple in the interior of Java. To this it adds that “the temples on the mountain of Gunong Prau are reached by four flights of stone steps from different directions, there being more than a thousand steps in each flight.” And this is but an instance in a small East India island. Yet the so-called Christian nations can far outdo this in extravagant waste of means, tho it be not for the expense of formal worship. When we are pointed to the expense of Christian worship, which is a far lower ratio than that of false religions, we may retort by referring to the waste of means on foolish and hurtful lusts. For instance, the well-known expenditure for intoxicating liquors and tobacco, in all the professed Christian nations, is far beyond the combined outlay for food and clothing. It is a fact beyond dispute that “willful waste makes woful want.” It is also true that selfish waste involves more want than all other causes combined. Waste is expenditure for that which brings no return, either in health, wealth, or wisdom. But treasure invested by faith in the cause of true religion has its reward in joy and peace and happiness in this life, and in the end a crown of eternal life. “Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto Me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.” Isa. 55:2.