Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

else."goods?"gregation."all"to Jesus the great Teacher that he The obligation to give comes not gave away his inheritance when newsmight receive instruction. Jesus must alone in the appeal that the money is of it came to him.have been greatly attracted to him for needed to advance the work of theIt must be made clear that God doesin Mark we read, "Then Jesus behold kingdom. It is far more important thatnot demand that everyone give awaying him loved him." Mark 10:21. we give lest the money have a withering his wealth. The Bible contains notableNevertheless, the young man was in effect upon our souls. The Dead Seaexamples of men who were wealthy.receives but never gives. This is thethe grip of a deadly sin and apparentlyBut they were able to master theirdidn't know it until Jesus flashed the thought expressed in the following lines riches so that they did not become alight of truth upon him and said, "Go of verse:peril to their souls. The real questionsell all that thou hast and give to I looked upon a forsea,every man to answer is whetherpoor."the It was with a shock that heAnd, lo! 'twas his wealth is to him a curse or a blessdead,received these words, for we are told Although by Hermon's snows ing; whether it is an instrument forthat he went sorrowful. away It was And Jordan fed.good in his hands, or a peril to his enthen Jesus turned to the disciples andtrance into heaven.said, "Verily, (Amen) (Truly), I say How came a fate so dire?A minister at Bristol received fromunto you, that a rich man shall hardly The tale's soon told.an individual a note which read, "Aenter into the kingdom of heaven. All that it got it keptperson who is prospering in trade earnAnd fast did hold.estly desires the prayers of this conI. The Illusion of WealthHe was a man who realizedThe disciples shared the usual JewAllish belief that it was much easier for tributary streamsthe inherent danger in wealth and wasFound here theira rich man to enter the Kingdom thangrave; seeking to rise above the temptationBecause thisa poor man. The prosperity of the richsea received, to use it selfishly.But never gave.was regarded as a proof of divine favor.IV. The Blessing of Surrendered WealthNo doubt this accounts for the youngTheOh sea that's young man who was unwillingdead,man's adverse reaction to the words ofto yield his wealth to Christ did notTeach me to know and feelJesus. Without his property he wouldrealize the greatThat blessing he was forfeitselfish graft and greed,be as a common laborer, if not a pauperMy doom ing by his action. Jesuswill seal.said, Give to theand beggar. This teachingcut acrosspoor, and thou shalt have treasure inheaven."the path of all his training and conHeavenAnd, Lord,viction. He did not realize that helprichesme seemed vague and farmy best,had become the important thing in My self to away to the young man. His interestgive,was in the present life with its pleaThat Ihis life, that they had become hismay others bless,sures. The things of this life which theAnd, like Thee, live.master.money would buy was of greater moA Christian bank executive writes:ment than treasure in eternity. He hadm. The Peril of Wealth"The most deplorable fact touching hunot learned that life's greatest joys canWealthman life is that through Satan's masterusually confronts men withnot be procured with silver and gold.temptation they would never have tostrategy a colossal deception is perpeDr. A. T. Robertsonmeet ifgeneration." theytrated on eachThis decepwere poor. Worldly andwrites, "To havetreasure in heaven is antion is the illusion that prosperity andunscrupulous people crave the friendappealingpleasure are the highest values in life.ship of the figure. We wealthy that they may profitcan lay up treasure in heavenfrom their riches. Wealth by the right use of our money here.may give aNo person who is wealthy can growThesocialstrong in the Christian life who doesstanding which others do only way to take money to heavennothere."is to give ithave. People who suddenly becomeaway The rich youngnot increase his giving to the Lord.wealthy often find ruler failed to realize that thethey are invited towaySo often the person who has increasfashionablewhereby he could enjoy hisgatherings where theymoney ined in goods, looks upon them as hisheaven was to give it to the poor aswould be excluded if they were poor.very own, whereas all his substance beJesus has suggested.But with this type of social successlongs to God. That was the fault of thethere often come sore temptations toFor Discussionman whose ground brought forth plenevil.1. What are some of the dangerstifully, and who reasoned within himSo often the wealthy man considers connected with the acquisition ofself saying, "What shall I do, I havethat his wealth means power, so uses wealth?not where to bestow my Itit for selfish ends. He trusts more on 2. To what extent are Christianswas a man of such character who saidthe arm of wealth than on the arm of justified into John Bright, "Do you know sir, thatspending their money forGod. He forgets that it is God who has luxuries?I am worth a million and a half sterling?"given him life and surrounded him with 3. Does Christ today expect ChrisThe blunt old commonor replied,so"Yes; and I know that you are worth many material blessings.tians "to sell when they beginSome of the most noteworthy Chris to follow Him?nothingtians have considered the potentialPrayer suggestionsII. The Obligations of Weath danger of wealth so great that theyEverything which we possess carries have given away all. Hudson 1. That we may all be able to giveTaylor,a good account ofan obligation with it. We are stewards the great missionary to China, thoughtour stewardship2. For our college and ourof the things God has placed within that should be the rule for him, andseminaryour hands. This is the thought express for many years he lived out of God'sed in both the parable of the "pounds"hand in what seems a constant miracle A friend is one who comes in when theand the parable of the "talents." The of provision. Fenton Hall, one of the rest of the world goes out.man who received but one pound or pioneer missionaries to Amazonia, gavetalent was required to give an account away all his money when he started his The stops of a good man, as well asmissionary work. C. T. Studd quietly his steps, are ordered by the Lord.of his stewardship.September 7, 1955'fSVO"'157