THE financial policy of a church has much to do with its spiritual prosperity. A dishonest man cannot expect to influence men to embrace his religion. His neighbors will say that they want nothing to do with a religion which produces such characters. They want a religion which will at least make men honest.
The man who is slack or indifferent about paying his debts is, by business men, esteemed but little better than a rogue. Many a man who thinks himself a Christian and means to make his way to Heaven, utterly ruins his reputation and influence by criminal carelessness of this character.
What is true of an individual is true of a church. We know of churches which, on account of the carelessness of trustees and stewards at this point, nobody wants to trust. If our churches would honor Christ and save souls, they must be both honest and prompt in financial matters. If a church would have the respect and confidence of thinking men, its financial standing should be as good as any bank.—Sel.