The task of relieving our schools is a big one; nevertheless, the very fact that the Lord has asked us to do it is a proof that it can be done. God never asks impossibilities. That God is asking us to do it shows that God is confident that we will do it. Certainly it is no harder to relieve the schools than it was to build a tabernacle in the wilderness. Under ordinary circumstances to build a tabernacle in a wilderness would be impossible, but with Israel it was easy, and this is the reason, as it is written: “They came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation. . . . And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the Lord. And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers’ skins, brought them. Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the Lord’s offering: and every man, with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service, brought it. . . . And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats’ hair. And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate; and spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the Lord had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.”
Now it is clear why the work was so easy. It was because the hearts of so many men and women were “stirred up” to bring a “willing offering unto the Lord.” If hearts are stirred up now, as bless the Lord they are being, then the debts in the schools can be paid, and it will be no trouble at all.
Remember that the Lord has told us that “there are, in the Divine providence, peculiar periods when we must rise in response to the call of God, and make use of our hands, our time, our intellect, and the whole being,— body, soul, and spirit,—in fulfilling His requirements;” and that the present is such a time as this.
Thank the Lord, the word has come, and a good start has been made in the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons.” His own statement is, “What is needed now is for all our people to put their shoulder to the wheel.” He tells us to do this “just now,” and not to wait. Let us not disappoint the Lord, but cheerfully push the Relief of the Schools to a finish.
P. T. MAGAN.
The Total Cash received on the Relief of the Schools Fund up to date is $ 30,149.52.
