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between best quality and cheap
merchandise? All merchandise
comes out of the ground. Quality
products are simply those resulting
from more careful and conscientious
selection of materials, which are
made into an object with more
thoughtful and more painstaking
craftsmanship. Inferior merchandise
comes from indifferent selection of
materials and less conscientious and
careful workmanship. God's way is
the quality way!
Is good quality "extravagance"?
Many people do not realize the true
meaning of the word "extrava–
gance." Webster's definition: "A
spending of more than is reasonable
or necessary; excessive expenditure;
wastefulness." God's quality, then,
is
NOT
extravagance unless it is ex–
cessive.
But what if you can't afford the
best quality? Then purchase only
what you are able-always live
within your means- and be satisfied
with such as you have. But, be in–
dustrious, doing what you do the
best you can and, if you really live
God's way, in due time He will
prosper you so that you can afford
better.
Yet never set your heart on physi–
cal things. In the quotation from
Jesus mentioned above (Mark
10:23-24), it was not the possession
ofwealth that Jesus said would keep
a man out of the Kingdom of God–
but the
TRUSTING
in those riches.
Jesus said that we should "beware
of covetousness: for a man's life
consisteth not in the things which he
possesseth" (Luke 12: 15). David
warned us that, when God prospers
us, we should be careful not to set
our hearts on the prosperity.
Through John, Jesus says: "Be–
loved, l wish above aU things that
thou mayest prosper and be in
health" (III John 2). Look at the
prosperity of the patriarch Joseph:
"And the Lord was with Joseph, and
he was a
PROSPEROUS
man .... the
Lord made all that he did to pros–
per ... " (Genesis 39:2-3). Job was
the wealthiest man in the East. After
he learned his lesson, God gave him
double bis original wealth. The
44
greatest national prosperity was
promised by God to the descen–
dants of Abraham
if
they would
diligently follow His way.
·
Prosperity is not a sin.
lt
is a
BLESSING.
God is the giver of abun–
dance and prosperity. But carnal
man usually sets his heart on the
wealth, instead of on serving God.
He makes it an idol in which he
trusts. That is the sin.
It is God's will that we prosper, be
obedient to Him, with our hearts set
on Him, relying solely on Him.
Then when we prosper-when God
gives abundance of good things, of
Carnal man usually
sets his heart on wealth,
instead of on serving
God. He makes it an
idol in which he trusts.
good quality- He wants us to be ap–
preciative, grateful, give Him
thanks , and enjoy what He has
blessed us with, all the while trust–
ing and worshiping Him and realiz–
ing we shall have the material
things but a short time.
One businessman whom God had
blessed with a very nice borne well
furnished with good-quality things
put it this way: "My attitude toward
my borne is like it was when 1 was
assigned to a very fine hotel room
for the night. 1 said: '1 will enjoy it
these few fieeting moments, give
God thanks, be appreciative, try to
use it as facilities for serving God,
obtain a good night's rest, and then
leave it and go on my way in the
morning, never looking back with
any regrets at leaving it. ' That's my
attitude toward my very nice borne.
If I had to leave it forever tomorrow
morning, there would be no re–
grets-just thanksgiving that God let
me enjoy it for the little time I had
it. This life doesn't last long-and we
soon leave everything in it. l'm
merely a transient sojourner here,
looking forward to something more
real and permanent in God's King–
dom."
But what about one who never
had this understanding of how to
view material things- and now, at
middle age or older, realizes what
has been lost? It may be no fault of
the person at all. But everyone
should do all he can, from the time
he awakens to this truth. Forget the
past. Begin where you are, and start
living God's way!
What about good manners and
proper attire?
There is much sophisticated "cul–
ture" in this world that is pure snob–
bery and vanity. But
TRUE
culture is
based on God's great law: "Thou
shalt Jove thy neighbor as thyself."
That part of culture and good man–
ners whicb expresses concern for
one's neighbor in politeness, gra–
ciousness, pleasantness, smiles and
service is true culture.
What about d ress? Yes, one
should dress according to the occa–
sion, and also within reason- ac–
cording to his pocketbook. On our
Ambassador College campus, dur–
ing work hours, students dress in the
proper work clothes for the job.
During classes, they do not "dress
up," but men often come in shirt
sleeves and open collars- yet clean,
neat and orderly. For an evening
function, they dress up in whatever
is their best-and if they cannot af–
ford better than they have, that's
quite all right.
But for a wedding or graduation
exercises, they should dress prop–
erly- in the best they have. Is that
being "stuck up"? Never! Jesus gave
a parable picturing the wedding be–
tween Himself and His Cburch. The
king in this parable is God, and his
son is Jesus Christ. Notice:
"And when the king carne in to
see the guests, he saw there a man
which had not on a wedding gar–
ment: and he saith unto him,
Friend, how camest thou in hither
not having a wedding garment?
And he was speechless. Then said
the king to the servants, Bind him
hand and foot, and take him away,
and cast him into outer darkness"
(Matthew 22: ll-13).
The Bible teaches the principie of
proper attire according to the occa–
sion. Bodily apparel is also used in
the Bible to symbolize character.
There is a kind of pride that is
NOT
vanity, but rather concern for others
and respect toward God. That kind
of pride we should have.
o
The
PLAIN TRUTH March 1978