[Biblemat] S) INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION (1)

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  Here is a study from my
ancient files.  Use to the glory of God.

INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION  (1)

The Silver Thermomenter: -- It is easier to describe and to evaluate the 
tangible than to describe of evaluate the intangi-
ble.  Because this is so, the Lord's churches are often led to
place undue emphasis on numbers added to their member-
ship and to the size of their weekly contributions than truth
merits.  These tend to become the criteria by which growth
and development are measured.  These are tangible; they can
be seen and counted.  Consequently, the size of a contribut-
ion, or its increase or decrease over a given period of time,
too often becomes the thermometer -- a "silver thermometer" 
-- by which is estimated the spiritual temperature of the spirit-
ual body.

     This charge is confirmed by the amount of space given in
church bulletins to the monetary side of the congregation's
life: income and ependitures.  It is likewise established by the
amount of time devoted to church finance in the meetings of
elders and deacons.  Then, too, how often through the past
few years has one been treated in periodicals to the financial
side of a church's life as he reads the report made by a preac-
her of his "tenure of office" with the congregation?  This is
not to be critical; it is to point out the evidence for the conten-
tion that there is a tendency today to measure the spiritual
life of a congregation by the amount of money contributed
each Lord's day.

     The aim of this discussion is to show that the size of a
church's contribution may or may not indicate the true spirit-
ual temperature of its members.  The attitude of a Christian
towards the money he possesses may become the acid test
of his love for Christ; but the size of his contribution may in
no wise be a true measurement of his spiritual character.

Lessons From Israel's History: -- The first half of the eighth
century before Christ was an era of prosperity and wealth in
both Israel and Judah.  Jereboam II began to reign in Israel in
790 B.C..  He restored the border of Israel from the entrance
of Hamath unto the sea of the Arabah.  The luxury and wealth
of the period are described by the prophets Amos and Hosea.
Amos especially.  Mad extravagencies followed the accumulat-
ion of wealth, corrupting the morals and worship of the people.  The worship 
followed the pattern of social and moral
corruptions.  Doctrinal apostasy was responsible for both the
moral and spiritual conditions. 

     Three years after Jeroboam began to reign in Israel, Uzziah began to 
reign in Judah.  Uzziah put down the enemies
of Judah, the Philistines and the Arabians, exacting tribute
from many.  He undertook a building program which fortified
Jerusalem and its environs.  He hewed out numerous cisterns
fro the large herds and flocks accumulated.  He loved and
encouraged husbandry among the people.  He prepared and
armed a large and efficient army.  All of these things led to
wealth and luxury in the land of Judah; and also they led to
pride in Uzziah's heart, which caused him to enter into the
temple and burn incense, contrary to the law of God.  Luxury
and extravagance were followed among those of Judah by a
dispositon of independence toward God.

     The wealth and extravagance in Israel is vividly described
by Amos, as he speaks of the "winter-house with the summer-
house, and the houses of ivory;" which he declared should
have an end.  He describes the children as sitting in Samaria
"in the corner of a couch, and on silken cushions of a bed"
(Amos 3:12).  The luxury-loving people are pictured as lying
upon beds of ivory, stretching themselves upon their couch-
es, and eating the lambs out of the flock and calves out of the
stall; as those that spent their time in singing idle songs to 
the sound of the viol, drinking wine in bowls, and anointing
themselves with the chief oils, but who had no concern for the condition of 
the poor (Amos 6:1-6).

     This spirit of extravagance and luxury invaded the sacred
precincts of worship.  In irony the prophet cries, "Come to
Beth-el, and transgress; to Gilgal, and multiply transgression;
and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes every three days; 
and offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving of that
which is leavened, and proclaim freewill-offerings and publish
them: for this pleaseth you, O ye children of Israel, saith the
Lord Jehovah" (Amos 4:4,5).

     Here was quantity but not quality.  Quantity alone was no
index to their spiritual righteousness!  Wherefore God declar-
ed, "I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will take no delight in
your solemn assemblies."  Take them away!  In their stead,
"Let justice roll down as waters, and righteousness as a migh-
ty stream" (Amos 5:21-24).  Extravagencies in worship, but 
void of holiness and devotion to God, moved Him to declare,
"The wind hath wrapped her up in its wings; and they shall be
put to shame because of their sacrifices" (Hos. 4:19).

     Israel was not content with the simple worship prescribed
by divine wisdom.  As a "luxurant vine, that putteth forth his
fruit," i.e. that multiplied his altars: "according to the good-
ness of their land they have made goodly pillars" (Hos. 10:1).
As he multiplied altars for sinning, altars were made unto him
for sinning (Hos. 8:11).  The point is this: becoming wealthy,
Israel was extravagant in the erection of altars and in her mat-
erial display of religious ritual; but in it all there was no devot-
ion to Jehovah: "For your goodness is as a morning cloud,
and as the dew that goeth early away" (Hos. 6:4).  The thing
God desired above all else He found not:  "For I desire good-
ness, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than
burnt-offering" (Hos. 6:6).  The "silver thermometer" was no
accurate indication of the people's love for the true God. ----
(More will be posted on this subject tomorrow, the Lord will-
ing, JWS).   </HTML>
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