Central Wisconsin College - Valkyrie Yearbook (Scandanavia, WI)

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n EBU -ml :HB Q 2 3 68 t ra- S mand of us that We make an account of how we have spent t-he time and talents he has given us. To the true servant, He will say:- Enter thou into the glory of my Father, prepared for you from the foundation of the world, but to the unfaith- ful I-Ie will say 1-f'Depart from me unto the fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. In giving of our temporal means to the furtherance of God's kingdom, it is Well to have a definite plan to follow. For example to give one-tenth of our income as the people of the Old Testament times were accustomed to do. A farmer may give the proceeds of a certain field to Missions. In this way he ,will take more interest in the Lord's work and labor directly for this cause. To give liberally to this cause may result in a little self- denial on our part, but think of the reward! A place in the heavenly home providing we are faithful. A man of consid- erable ivealth once gave 335000 to Missions. Shortly after the remainder of his property was destroyed and he found him- self a poor man. One of his neighbors said rather sarcastical- ly :- The money which you recently gave to missions might have been put to good use now that you have lost everything. No, replied the man, who had met with the failure, I do not for a moment wish for that sum of money. That is the only thing which I have keptf, I-Ie had not lost this because it was now his treasure in heaven and jesus had said 2- Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal, for where your treasure is there will your heart be also. Although many may be poor as far as material wealth is concerned, and therefore cannot contribute as freely to the cause of the Lord as they Wish, there is one thing which every christian can give and that is his daily prayer. We also read in God's word Epistle of james 5, 16 'KA christian's prayer availeth much if it is sincere. Prayer had miraculous power and should therefore not be neglected. Its power has been shown in many instances in aiding the Lord's Work. In- valids who have not been able to be active in daily work, have sometimes made it a practise to pray for some definite cause. Through faith and persistence their prayer has been answered. Their accomplishment for the I.ord's work has often been greater than that of many of us who are able to be in active daily service. An example of what earnest and sincere prayer will do is that of Augustine and his mother Monica. . We are told that in his youth he was frivolous and careless, disregard-

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Ei UD Ggzllllhti ll' Q n, af - ' 'fl-11,-. figs I f ' :tt - M aa 67 GIVING TO THE LORD'S WORK In the word of God we have direct commands that we should give to His work. In the gospel of ,Iohn Chapter 9, verse 4. jesus says these words:- I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is yet day, the night cometh when no man can work. First, we can give to the Lord's work during our every day life. All about us people are in need, both bodily and spiritually. By helping someone each day we are thus sacri- ficing a little of our own time or means. These little gifts or sacrihces are given to the Lord as He has Himself said z- In asmuch as ye did it unto these of my brethern even these least, ye did it unto mefy Some may need our help because they are poor as far as temp-oral wealth is concerned or because they are sick. In this case we can share the good things we enjoy with them, and serve them. But even more deplorable is the case when, as we may say, their soul is sick. Wfe may then, by the grace of God, be an instrument in His hand to bring-them to the Lord. Think of the joy in Heaven when one soul is saved! ' These little acts of kindness, which we may do each day, do not cost much effort on our part, and still they may be of great worth. VVilliam Penn says:- I expect to pass through this life but once, if t-here is any kindness or any good thing I can do to my fellow beings, let me do it now. I shall pass this way but once. In order that the Lord's work may be carried on, money is needed, both for the charity institutions as well as for the Home and Foreign Missions. Many volunteers are turned away because of lack of funds-Jbecause you and I did not give of our means for the furtherance of God's kingdom. Everything we possess we have received from Godg we are merely stewards of l-lis gifts and shall some day make an ac- count -oi our stewardship. A steward or one who has charge of his master's pr-operty always pays interest to the owner. How much more should not we, then, feel it our duty to give to the Lord and Master of us all, the interest which is due? VVe read in one of the parables of the Bible how a Master when he went to a strange land, called his servants to him and entrusted each one with a certain sum of money. The two servants used the money to the best advantage but the third was careless and disregarded the will ot his Master. Vkfhen the latter returned he inquired how the talents had been utiliz- ed. So the Lord and Master jesus Christ will some time de-

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69 ing both the wishes of God and his mother, who was a devout Christian. Although her son seemed to be going farther and farther away from God, she continued to pray for him. He was finally converted and stands as one of the shining lights in Church History, and this was largely due to the mother's prayer. Prayer is a privilege which all should make use of, it is also a command of Christ when he said :- The harvest truly is great but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest that he may send out laborers. The last and undoubtedly the greatest sacrifice which we may be called upon to take, to the Lord's work is -ourself. If the Lord should call us wholly into His service we should through His strength and guid-ance answer gladly as the pro- phet Isaiah did, Here am I. Send me. Wfhen we think of Christ's great sacrifice for humanity, how little are our gifts to Him although we may give our entire lives to help fur- ther His kingdom. True love to God and also love for our fellow men alone will prompt us to make this sacrifice of a life in God,s Service, if it should be His will. Let us then endeavor to work earnestly for the Lord, and Master, and not let a day pass without doing something good. The command is to work earnestly while it is yet dayf, Thy life was given for me, Thy precious blood was shed, That I might ransomed be, And quickened from the dead. Thy life was given for me, Wliat have I given for Thee? O, let my life be given, My years for Thee be spent, World fetters all be riven, And joy and suffering blent! Thou gavest Thyself for meg . I give myself for Thee. Bertha Lunde, Collegiate. l I