Money Talks.

Many are losing a great opportunity of silently preaching Jesus to their fellows by their habit of giving.  Two men were discussing the evidences of the Christian religion.  The one was a Christian; the other not, and inclined to be sceptical.  Arguments were freely exchanged.  At last the sceptic, who was a blunt, out-spoken man, said frankly, to his friend and neighbor:  “I think we might as well drop this matter.  For I don’t believe a word you say.  And, more than that, I am quite satisfied in my own mind that you do not really believe it yourself.  For to my certain knowledge you have not given, the last twenty years, as much for the spread of Christianity, such as the building of churches and foreign and domestic missions, as your last Durham cow cost.  Why, sir, if I believed what you say you believe I’d make the church my rule for giving, my farm the exception.”

That Christian man’s life was contradicting every word he uttered to his neighbor.  Money talks.  His was talking very loudly to his sceptical neighbor.  His neighbor was unusually frank in saying out what thousands are thinking.  He had lost a great opportunity of winning his friend.

Debts.

In a simple little sentence Paul reveals how thoroughly he had grasped Jesus’ meaning.  He said, “I am debtor both to Greeks and barbarians”—­to all men.[34] Now that word, “debtor,” commonly means two things:  that you have received something of value from some one, and that therefore you owe him for what he gave to you.

But Paul hadn’t gotten anything special from the men of whom he is speaking.  His birth and training and whatever else he had were Jewish.  And the Jews were a minority in the world.  He was not under the debtor obligation of having gotten something from the men he is speaking of.

In his use of that word, “debtor” means three things:  first, something received from God, and that something everything; then something owing to God; and then that something payable to man.  He counted himself in debt to all men on Jesus’ account.  And so are we.  How much owest thou to thy Lord?  That’s how much you are to pay to men on your Lord’s account.

We are not even our own, much less our goods.  We were bought up when we were bankrupt A great price was paid for us, even the life-blood of Jesus.  And our Owner bids us pay up by paying out.  We are badly and blessedly in debt; badly, for we can never square the account; blessedly, because we can be constantly paying on account, out to men in Jesus’ name.

    “Over against the Treasury this day
      The Master silent sits; whilst, unaware
      Of that Celestial Presence still and fair,
    The people pass or pause upon their way.

    And some go laden with His treasures sweet,
      And dressed in costly robes of His device
      To cover hearts of stone and souls of ice,
    Which bear no token to the Master’s feet.