heavens.”—1 Pet. 3:7; Luke 12:20, 21; 12:33, NW.

THE SELF-BENEFITING USE OF MONEY

Most people do not seem to give any thought to laying up a “never-failing treasure in the heavens.” They think only of laying up treasures on this earth. Storing up earthly riches is not really the self-benefiting use of money. Jesus pointed this out at Luke, chapter 16, when he gave the parable of the unjust steward:

“A certain man was rich and he had a steward, and this one was accused to him as handling his goods wastefully. So he called him and said to him: ‘What is this I hear about you? Hand in the account of your stewardship, for you can no longer manage the house.’ Then the steward said to himself: ‘What am I to do, seeing that my master will take the stewardship away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, I am ashamed to beg. Ah! I know what I shall do, so that, when I am put out of the stewardship, people will receive me into their homes.’ And calling to him each one of the debtors of his master he proceeded to say to the first: ‘How much are you owing my master?’ He said: ‘A hundred bath-measures of olive oil.’ He said to him: ‘Take your written agreement back and sit down and quickly write fifty.’ Next he said to another one: ‘Now you, how much are you owing?’ He said: ‘A hundred cor-measures of wheat.’ He said to him: ‘Take your written agreement back and write eighty.’ And his master commended the steward, though unrighteous, because he acted with practical wisdom; because the sons of this system of things are wiser in a practical way toward their own generation than the sons of the light are.”—Luke 16:1-8, NW.

What was the key point of the parable? Jesus explained: “Also I say to you, Make friends for yourselves by means of the unrighteous riches, so that, when such fail, they may receive you into the everlasting dwelling-places.”—Luke 16:9, NW.

Jesus was not here commending dishonesty, but he was recommending wise, farsighted, practical, self-benefiting action. Persons of this world are shrewd to benefit themselves by making many friends, especially friends who are in position to do them good. They often make such friends by the shrewd use of their money. Of course, such persons have their own future interests in mind; still from a worldly viewpoint that is sound wisdom. It really is the self-benefiting use of money. Should the “sons of the light” be less wise than worldlings? Should they be less farsighted? Should they be less prudent in the self-benefiting use of money? Of course not! Of all people the “sons of the light” know who man’s true Friends are. Of all people the “sons of the light” should make their friendship “by means of the unrighteous riches.”

The religious Pharisees, who heard Jesus’ parable of the unjust steward, were money lovers. They claimed to be “sons of the light,” but they were not wise in the use of their money. They piled it up for themselves and did not really make friends with God, and Christ Jesus they killed. But the unjust steward was farsighted. He feathered his own nest by reducing debts owed to his master. By taking a self-benefiting course of action in regard to money he made friends. He did not have to worry when he was turned out of his job; his friends would welcome him into their homes. So the “sons of the light” should be wise enough to make true friends now. But how?

By helping advance the interests of God’s kingdom. This requires not only our time and energy but wise use of “the unrighteous riches.” When we contribute to the upkeep of Kingdom Halls, when we obtain literature to preach the good news, when we use our automobile or ride on a bus, streetcar or a subway to go to a Bible study, we increase the interests of God’s kingdom in our own territory. But we can also use “the unrighteous riches” to increase Kingdom interests world-wide. How? By materially assisting the channel that Jehovah is using to preach the good news in all the world for a witness. That channel is the “faithful and discreet slave”; it is made up of the anointed remnant of Jehovah’s witnesses, who have long used the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society of Pennsylvania as their legal servant.—Matt. 24:45, NW.

The Watch Tower Society is interested in further earth-wide expansion of the Kingdom good news. To that end the Society now operates seventy-eight branch offices throughout the world. It has sent more than 1,800 graduates of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead to a hundred different lands. To assist Jehovah’s witnesses in their witness work the Society prints Bible literature. Full-time ministers obtain much of this at rates far below cost of printing and shipping. Where does the money come from? From contributions.

It is the privilege of the “sons of the light” to set aside some of “the unrighteous riches” for use in advancing Kingdom interests earth-wide. For the Society to plan for further expansion it seems best that those able to contribute through the year advise the Society in advance as to what they hope to give. Such an expression is not a pledge. It is merely a statement of what one hopes to give. It is properly termed “your contribution prospects.” How may you express yourself in this matter? By writing a card or letter to the Society’s branch office of the country in which you live. For the United States address your card or letter to: Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, Treasurer’s Office, 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn 1, N. Y.

What should the card or letter say? Something to this effect: “It is my hope that during the next twelve months I shall be able to donate to the work of preaching the good news of the Kingdom about the amount of $———————, which contributions I shall make in such amounts and at such times as prove to be convenient to me and as I am prospered by the undeserved kindness of Jehovah God through Christ Jesus.” [Signed] On page 258 is a list of branch office addresses; a complete list is found at the back of most Society publications.

It is true that money cannot enrich God. All the gold and silver are his. So to use wisely “the unrighteous riches” is really the least we can do for the true Friends. For being faithful in what is least they will entrust you with more and lovingly welcome you into the “everlasting dwelling-places” of the new world. Be wise. Serve man’s true Friends, not riches.

“Physician, Heal Thyself”

● In the early part of February, 1956, the World Council of Churches met in Sydney, Australia, to consider “Christianity’s plans and strategy for Southeast Asia.” One of the speakers addressing the Council was the dean of Yale’s Theological Seminary, Dr. Pope. In discussing the problems facing them, Dr. Pope, among other things, made the following significant statement: “Divided and rent asunder in its own life, the church itself speaks in broken accents and sometimes seems to add to the confusion of tongues. The nations of the world might understandably reply to the church’s plea for international unity and peace: ‘Physician, heal thyself.’”—Time, February 13, 1956.