Embezzlement of God's Funds.
By M. D.
STARTLING but true. Has God indeed made his children trustees, guardians, or stewards of funds, for which he will require a strict account? No denial of this will be made by any child of God who has even a limited knowledge of the Bible. But who can explain the deadly apathy and lack of realization that covers and hides this truth from the hearts of so great a proportion of the Christians of this day? Is it not the strategy of the devil, to keep this truth in the background of every Christian heart, and thus, not only to strangle if possible the spiritual life itself, but to stay the progress of the cause of God in the world? What is imperatively needed to-day in almost every agency that is used to save men and the world from sin and eternal death? Some one will answer, "More prayer." Yes, indeed; but the prayers of multitudes of professing Christians cannot "go up as a memorial before God," because the "alms" are absent. It is necessary to bear constantly in mind that God requires more than praying. The prophet Malachi declares to Israel, "Ye have wearied the Lord with words." Following closely these words come those more startling, "Ye have robbed me in tithes and offerings;" and it is particularly stated as the reason why they "were cursed with a curse." It is very noticeable that the condition of "pouring out a blessing" is "bringing in the tithes and offerings," which was strictly the rendering back to God that which was his property. The promises then follow. Great numbers in the church of Christ, at this age, would doubtless plead ignorance and innocence of the crime of robbery of God's funds. A statute of our State requires the trustee of a savings bank to be present at the meetings of the Board, and on his absence twice consecutively, his trust is forfeited. He must know his responsibility, and discharge the duties of the position. Does not God require of his trustees time, thought, and study how best to use his funds for him? Human justice looks with severity upon the misuse and perversion of trust funds. Can the Infinite Mind look upon the embezzlement of his trust funds with less abhorrence than men? The prophet Malachi has given the answer. Christ teaches the same principle, if the parable of the talents means anything. Paul devotes nearly whole chapters to instructions concerning the right use of money. Is it not a startling fact that thousands upon thousands of professing Christians are going to the Judgment of God under the charge of embezzlement of trust funds?—M. D., in Watchman.