Give Christ the Best

uTh£ best is always good enough for me,” was the playful reply of a lady friend of ours when we asked her which of several things she would prefer. What our friend said playfully may be applied in all seriousness to the gifts which every Christian ought to offer to his Redeemer. The best is never too good for him; in fact, we should never put off our Lord with anything less.

The primal idea of true Christianity is this giving to Jesus all we have and all we are. This is one important meaning of that much-perverted word sanctification. Some people use it to signify a process of purification, or a putting off of moral filthiness, until a perfect sinlessness is reached. But the ordinary meaning of ’ 4 sanctify “is to set apart, to consecrate to God. When Jesus said, MI sanctify myself,” he certainly did not affirm that he was putting off impurity and becoming perfectly holy. He had never been anything else than sinless. He intended to say, ’ 4 1 consecrate myself to the redemption of man and the fulfilment of my Father’s will.” A true Christian life is the continual consecration of our bodily powers, of our energies, our affections, our money, our influence to Him who bought us with his blood. The more willing we are to give Jesus the very best we have, the more nearly are we attaining to genuine holiness. Is this the usual practice of those who profess and call themselves Christian?

Take the matter of money. How many Christians habitually give a due share of their income to the Lord? “Ah, I cannot afford to give so much as I once did,” is a very current apology. Yes; but you have not retrenched in your style of living. You began by cutting down in your contributions to benevolence, when that ought to have been the very last thing to be touched when retrenchment was forced upon you. The true principle is, give God the first claim, and let others wait until lie has been served. c ( When I get any money,” said Erasmus, “I buy books; if any is left I buy clothes.” There spoke the genuine scholar.

But too many Christians say in practice, “If I am making money, I shall treat myself to a new carriage, or my family to new furniture, etc.; if there is anything over, I will put it in the contribution-box.” The fattest sheep is killed for the table of selfishness. The poor ( ( crow-bait” is palmed off for sacrifice upon God’s altar. This same wretched principle is manifested when six days are given to business, and one or two evening hours are stingily begrudged to the prayer-meeting or to works of benevolence. The punishment of all such petit larceny of the Lord is that the perpetrators become mere” crow-baits “spiritually, and never taste the rich morsels which God bestows.” The liberal soul shall be made fat;n all the rest are but skin and bone.

Here is a solemn question for parents in training their children, and for Christian sons and daughters in choosing their calling. uThat boy is a very bright fellow; I will make a lawyer of him. His brother is a good conscientious chap; but he has brains enough, I think, for a parson.” So reasons the pater familias, and the sons catch the infection. The one with ten talents goes to the Bar, and perhaps becomes a great advocate and a very small Christian. The one with two talents consecrates them to the work of winning souls, and becomes the heir of a great inheritance in heaven. God blessed the one who gave him the best he had; the other “reaped where he had sowed,” and did not get a basketful.

Jesus Christ has a sovereign right to the best brains, the best culture, the best estates, the best powers in the land. Suppose that the venerable Stephen H. Tyng had decided in his youth that his capacities were only worthy of the Bar or the Senate House. Suppose that he had entered the lists for wealth and fame, and climbed to the highest round of the ladder. When the frosts of fourscore were gathering on his brow, would he have been the happy man he has been, with the

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benedictions of Heaven covering his gray hairs like a crown of light?

We do not affirm that a man cannot serve Christ in any other calling than the ministry. But we do affirm that self should never be consulted by a true Christian in making life’s choices. Christ’s prior right to the very best is the only right rule. And that rule, well observed, will give to Christ’s service the “pick” of human power and influence. What is left over may go to the inferior claims of 4 ’ the things that perish.”