The condition of the temple was deplorable when Josiah moved to refit it for divine worship. His wicked predecessors, in their contempt for everything that was of God, had wrought havoc with the sacred building; but willing hands and devoted hearts quickly put things right, as we have seen. We gather from 2 Chronicles 34:8-13, that the relations between the carpenters and masons and their overseers were cordial and harmonious. These verses make pleasant reading, and they remind us of how agreeably Boaz and his harvest-men wrought together (Ruth 2:4). What lessons these records contain for all who would please God in these turbulent days!
We return to the statement that there was no reckoning with the men who handled the money “because they dealt faithfully.” This is found in the “King’s” account, written earlier than the books of the Chronicles. It is noticeable that the same thing is said of the workmen in the days of Joash and Jehoiada (2 Kings 12:15; 2 Kings 22:7). The question will naturally arise “Is this how God would have things done habitually? Should the example of these people of long ago be the pattern for us to follow today?” The answer is “No.” The times of Joash and of Josiah were exceptional. In each reign a great spiritual revival was in progress. After many years of grave transgression the people (or at least a remnant of them) were turning back to their God. Hearts and consciences were in exercise concerning His Holy will. This being so, precautionary measures against fraud were scarcely necessary.
But our God is above all kings, a God of order, and He delights to see His people careful in all their ways, and particularly where money is concerned. It is of course possible to become methodical in such matters, and the assembly of God should never be shackled by mere forms and rules. But appearances must be considered; we must “provide things honest in the sight of all men” (Rom. 12:17). In Mr. Darby’s excellent translation there is a footnote to the word “provide”—“taking care by forethought that there should be what is comely and seemly.” In the days of the Apostle Paul, large sums of money were contributed by various Gentile assemblies for the relief of their needy brethren in Judea. It was not unnatural that they should desire Paul to carry their gifts to Jerusalem, for he was the spiritual father of these Gentile Christians, and those were not days of bank drafts and postal orders. But Paul, although delighted to have part in this work of grace, insisted upon having companions—men carefully chosen by the assemblies for the purpose. Chapters 8 and 9 of his second Epistle to the Corinthians are worthy of very careful reading. These chapters have been described as “Paul’s charity sermon.” The tone throughout is delightful. The Lord Jesus is brought forward as our great example in the matter of generous giving. “Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.” With such words ringing in our ears and in our hearts we shall be liberal, realizing that we owe infinitely more than we shall ever be able to give. David said “Who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? For all things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given thee” (1 Chron. 29:14). Paul says concerning the Macedonian saints who had given money for brethren in Judea, “They first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God” (2 Cor. 8:5). Deborah said of some in her day, “the people willingly offered themselves” (Judges 5:2,9). It is recorded of one of Jehoshaphat’s officers that he “willingly offered himself unto Jehovah” (2 Chron. 17:16). In all these cases it was God who was uppermost in their minds; they yielded themselves and all that they had to Him, in appreciation of His grace to them.
The Macedonian saints were poor by comparison with their brethren in Corinth, but their “deep poverty” was accompanied by abundant joy in the Lord (2 Cor. 8:2). It has frequently been observed that the poor give far more in proportion to their means than the rich, the widow with her two mites leading the way in this grace (Luke 21:1-4). About fifty-five years ago, when a general collection was being made for a special object, the brother who consented to act as treasurer in the matter called at my office in London one morning and produced two letters for me to read. One was from a brother holding a good government post, (with no family to support), enclosing sixteen shillings with an apology for the smallness of the amount, because (as he said) “our assembly is not large!” The other was from an aged woman, who subsisted by taking in washing (for there was no old age pension in those days), enclosing five shillings with deep regret that she could not send more! I am not ashamed to confess that the brother who brought the letters, and I also, dropped a few tears in my office that morning. “God bless the dear woman,” we said with one accord. Brethren, don’t be mean! Remember that your Lord gave His all—yea, Himself for you!
The Apostle said of the brethren who were to accompany him to Jerusalem with the offerings of the Gentiles, “they are the messengers of the assemblies, and the glory of Christ” (2 Cor. 8:23). What higher commendation could any of us have this side the Judgment Seat of Christ? The men referred to had been carefully selected by their brethren as stewards in whom they could have full confidence. In contrast to this, the case of Judas Iscariot comes to our minds. How came he to be treasurer for the apostolic band in the days of the Lord Jesus? It is unthinkable that the Lord Himself chose him for such service. Did He not once say “one of you is a devil?” (John 6:70). Was He not aware, as the reader of all hearts, that love of money was the particular snare of Judas? Would He, who is always tenderly considerate and compassionate because of the frailty of poor flesh, expose any man to special temptation? Did He not teach the disciples to pray “lead us not into temptation?” (Matt. 6:13). How then did Judas become keeper of the bag? His companions must have chosen him for this service; certainly not for his spiritual grace, but rather for his business ability. Fatal blunder! it worked disastrously as we know. Many years after the unhappy Judas had “gone to his own place,” the Apostle John wrote of him: “not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein” (John 12:6).
Possibly it was with the terrible case of Judas before their minds that the Apostles bade the saints in Jerusalem to look out amongst themselves seven men to distribute their funds; but they must be “men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3). These are admittedly high qualifications, but God can only be acceptably served by men of spiritual power and grace. Men should not be allowed to push themselves into positions of prominence merely because of their standing in the world. This is sheer carnality, and no good can result from it. It is as important to have Spirit-filled men to handle the finances as to preach and teach publicly the things of the Lord Jesus. Many companies of God’s saints would do well to exercise themselves before God about this matter.
We conclude therefore that God would have His saints orderly in their accountancy, both individually and collectively. Our own books should be so kept that the Inspector of Taxes, if he has occasion to examine them, may see at a glance that we are honorable men; and the books of the gathered saints should be so ordered that everything may be above reproach.
Once more we would remind ourselves that Josiah’s laborers in their work and in their handling of the people’s money “dealt faithfully.” The Holy Spirit says in 1 Corinthians 4:2, “it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.”