prophets and kings-第9节
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u； and will be a Father unto you； and ye shall be My sons and daughters； saith the Lord Almighty。〃 2 Corinthians 6：17； 18。
In the midst of prosperity lurks danger。 Throughout the ages； riches and honor have ever been attended with peril to humility and spirituality。 It is not the empty cup
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that we have difficulty in carrying； it is the cup full to the brim that must be carefully balanced。 Affliction and adversity may cause sorrow； but it is prosperity that is most dangerous to spiritual life。 Unless the human subject is in constant submission to the will of God； unless he is sanctified by the truth； prosperity will surely arouse the natural inclination to presumption。
In the valley of humiliation； where men depend on God to teach them and to guide their every step； there is comparative safety。 But the men who stand； as it were； on a lofty pinnacle； and who； because of their position； are supposed to possess great wisdomthese are in gravest peril。 Unless such men make God their dependence； they will surely fall。
Whenever pride and ambition are indulged； the life is marred； for pride； feeling no need； closes the heart against the infinite blessings of Heaven。 He who makes self…glorification his aim will find himself destitute of the grace of God； through whose efficiency the truest riches and the most satisfying joys are won。 But he who gives all and does all for Christ will know the fulfillment of the promise； 〃The blessing of the Lord； it maketh rich； and He addeth no sorrow with it。〃 Proverbs 10：22。 With the gentle touch of grace the Saviour banishes from the soul unrest and unholy ambition； changing enmity to love and unbelief to confidence。 When He speaks to the soul； saying； 〃Follow Me；〃 the spell of the world's enchantment is broken。 At the sound of His voice the spirit of greed and ambition flees from the heart； and men arise； emancipated； to follow Him。
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Chapter 4
Results of Transgression
Prominent among the primary causes that led Solomon into extravagance and oppression was his failure to maintain and foster the spirit of self…sacrifice。
When； at the foot of Sinai； Moses told the people of the divine command； 〃Let them make Me a sanctuary； that I may dwell among them；〃 the response of the Israelites was accompanied by the appropriate gifts。 〃They came； everyone whose heart stirred him up； and everyone whom his spirit made willing；〃 and brought offerings。 Exodus 25：8； 35：21。 For the building of the sanctuary； great and extensive preparations were necessary； a large amount of the most precious and costly material was required； but the Lord accepted only freewill offerings。 〃Of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take My offering；〃 was the command repeated by Moses to the congregation。 Exodus 25：2。 Devotion to God and a spirit of sacrifice were the
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first requisites in preparing a dwelling place for the Most High。
A similar call to self…sacrifice was made when David turned over to Solomon the responsibility of building the temple。 Of the assembled multitude David asked； 〃Who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord？〃 1 Chronicles 29：5。 This call to consecration and willing service should ever have been kept in mind by those who had to do with the erection of the temple。
For the construction of the wilderness tabernacle； chosen men were endowed by God with special skill and wisdom。 〃Moses said unto the children of Israel； See； the Lord hath called by name Bezaleel； 。 。 。 of the tribe of Judah； and He hath filled him with the Spirit of God； in wisdom； in understanding； and in knowledge； and in all manner of workmanship。 。 。 。 And He hath put in his heart that he may teach； both he； and Aholiab； 。 。 。 of the tribe of Dan。 Them hath He filled with wisdom of heart； to work all manner of work； of the engraver； and of the cunning workman； and of the embroiderer； 。 。 。 and of the weaver； even of them that do any work。 。 。 。 Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab； and every wisehearted man； in whom the Lord put wisdom and understanding。〃 Exodus 35：30…35； 36：1。 Heavenly intelligences co…operated with the workmen whom God Himself had chosen。
The descendants of these workmen inherited to a large degree the talents conferred on their forefathers。 For a time these men of Judah and Dan remained humble and unselfish； but gradually； almost imperceptibly； they lost their hold upon God and their desire to serve Him unselfishly。 They
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asked higher wages for their services； because of their superior skill as workmen in the finer arts。 In some instances their request was granted； but more often they found employment in the surrounding nations。 In place of the noble spirit of self…sacrifice that had filled the hearts of their illustrious ancestors； they indulged a spirit of covetousness； of grasping for more and more。 That their selfish desires might be gratified； they used their God…given skill in the service of heathen kings； and lent their talent to the perfecting of works which were a dishonor to their Maker。
It was among these men that Solomon looked for a master workman to superintend the construction of the temple on Mount Moriah。 Minute specifications； in writing； regarding every portion of the sacred structure； had been entrusted to the king； and he could have looked to God in faith for consecrated helpers； to whom would have been granted special skill for doing with exactness the work required。 But Solomon lost sight of this opportunity to exercise faith in God。 He sent to the king of Tyre for a man； 〃cunning to work in gold； and in silver； and in brass； and in iron； and in purple； and crimson； and blue； and that can skill to grave with the cunning men 。 。 。 in Judah and in Jerusalem。〃 2 Chronicles 2：7。
The Phoenician king responded by sending Huram； 〃the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan； and his father was a man of Tyre。〃 Verse 14。 Huram was a descendant； on his mother's side； of Aholiab； to whom； hundreds of years before； God had given special wisdom for the construction of the tabernacle。
Thus at the head of Solomon's company of workmen
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there was placed a man whose efforts were not prompted by an unselfish desire to render service to God。 He served the god of this world； mammon。 The very fibers of his being were inwrought with the principles of selfishness。
Because of his unusual skill； Huram demanded large wages。 Gradually the wrong principles that he cherished came to be accepted by his associates。 As they labored with him day after day； they yielded to the inclination to compare his wages with their own； and they began to lose sight of the holy character of their work。 The spirit of self…denial left them； and in its place came the spirit of covetousness。 The result was a demand for higher wages； which was granted。
The baleful influences thus set in operation permeated all branches of the Lord's service； and extended throughout the kingdom。 The high wages demanded and received gave to many an opportunity to indulge in luxury and extravagance。 The poor were oppressed by the rich； the spirit of self…sacrifice was well…nigh lost。 In the far…reaching effects of these influences may be traced one of the principal causes of the terrible apostasy of him who once was numbered among the wisest of mortals。
The sharp contrast between the spirit and motives of the people building the wilderness tabernacle； and of those engaged in erecting Solomon's temple； has a lesson of deep significance。 The self…seeking that characterized the workers on the temple finds its counterpart today in the selfishness that rules in the world。 The spirit of covetousness； of seeking for the highest position and the highest wage； is rife。
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The willing service and joyous self…denial of the tabernacle workers is seldom met with。 But this is the only spirit that should actuate the followers of Jesus。 Our divine Master has given an example of how His disciples are to work。 To those whom He bade； 〃Follow Me； and I will make you fishers of men〃 （Matthew 4：19）； He offered no stated sum as a reward for their services。 They were to share with Him in self…denial and sacrifice。
Not for the wages we receive are we to labor。 The motive that prompts us to work for God should have in it nothing akin to self…serving。 Unselfish devotion and a spirit of sacrifice have always been and always will be the first requisite of acceptable service。 Our Lord and Master designs that not one thread of selfishness shall be woven into His work。 Into our efforts we are to bring the tact and skill； the exactitude and wisdom； that the God of perfection required of the builders of the earthly tabernacle； yet in all our labors we are to remember that the greatest talents or the most splendid services are acceptable only when self is laid upon the altar； a living； consuming sacrifice。
Another of the deviations from right principles that finally led to the downfall of Israel's king was his yi
