The Folly of Those who for Fear of Earthly Losses Will Not Follow Christ.
THE RICH YOUNG RULER
"I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved." 1 Cor. 10, 33.
One reason why so many in our day will not follow Christ is because they do not want to support the ministry and missions. This is a burden which they feel reluctant to bear, and they prefer to remain with the world, expecting to fare better with the children of the world than with the followers of Christ.
The folly of such is apparent. They are blind; they do not see their true profit. What is this profit? “That they may be saved,” in other words: their soul’s salvation. If they would follow Christ, He would feed their souls with the bread of eternal life, and He would also provide for their bodily needs. Behold how abundantly Jesus always provided for those who entrusted them
selves to H im ! He always furnishes those who believe in Him with food, though He should have to perform a miracle. David there fore says, Ps. 37: “I have been young and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread.” What folly, then, not to follow Christ for fear that you might meet with earthly losses!
And do they not sear their conscience by withholding their dues from God? There is the clear command of God to all men under the sun: “Bender unto God the things that are God’s!” What are they doing by refusing to do this? They are stealing from God. Mai. 3, 8 we read: “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed Me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed Thee ? In tithes and offerings.” From this it is as clear as daylight that if one does not pay his church dues and does not do all he can for the spreading of God’s kingdom, he robs God. What horrible sacrilege! Therefore the Lord says by the prophet in the next verse: “ Ye are cursed with a curse, for ye have robbed Me.” Owing to the fact that so many rob God, the Church of God is continually suffering, and the cause of the Cross is always languishing. Let us therefore never withhold our dues from the Church!
Prayer.
O Lord, Thou dost sit at the right hand of majesty in heaven to save us forever and to make us happy in Thy kingdom. Be Thou mindful of this even when we are not mindful of ourselves; save us mightily by Thy power and give us heavenly bliss, not for our sakes, but for Thine own sake. For the kingdom we are to inherit is Thine; Thine is the power to lead us into it; and Thine shall forever be all honor and glory. O Lord, make our hearts willing to give, for Thou hast given to us. Amen.
Learn to give and learn to love; Only thus thy life can be Foretaste of the life above, Tinged with immortality.
Give, for God to Thee hath given;
Love, for He by love is known;
Child of God and heir of heaven,
Let thy parentage be shown.
