AUGUST 22ND, 1937
AUGUST 22ND, 1937
BELOVED BROTHER, — The exercises expressed in your letter (whether it is right for a Christian to apply for unemployment benefit at a Labour Exchange) are of much interest to me, and I am sure it is acceptable to God that you should be concerned not to do anything that would bring reproach on the excellent Name.
I do not know much about the detail of the matter you refer to, but it seems to me that 1 Peter 2: 13, 14 and Romans 13: 1 - 4 bear on it. There is distinctly the thought of them that do well benefiting by what rulers do — “for it is God’s minister to thee for good”. The provision for unemployed [p. 252] persons who are willing to work, but cannot get work to do, is a legitimate matter for those in authority to consider. It is in itself good, and I think it may be regarded as providential that such a provision should be made. We all receive very many benefits from the good ordering of things by those in authority. We accept them thankfully as expressions of God’s providential care. If they appoint that we shall pay taxes, we are subject. If they appoint that our meeting rooms shall not pay rates, we are subject to them in this also. The fact that we benefit by what they ordain seems to me to be just a cause of thanksgiving to God.
Of course, if they required me to do something contrary to what we know to be pleasing to God, our path would be clear, to refuse to leave the path of obedience. But if they minister good to us, without requiring us to do wrong in anyway, can we not regard them as God’s ministers?
It is evident that Paul and those with him benefited much by the kindness of the Melitans. They did not decline the friendly hospitality of Publius, or the presents made to them “of what should minister to our wants”. This shows that God may use the people of the world to care for, and to supply the “wants” of His people — even such distinguished servants as Paul and Luke.
I have had the privilege of thinking of you in prayer.
With much love in the Lord,
Yours affectionately in Him,