Business & Religion by Mrs. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Dec 12, 1916

FromSigns of the Times, December 12, 1916

Business & Religion

By Mrs. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE

CAN THEY BE UNITED?

Mrs. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE

“NOT slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.” Rom. 12:11. There is something in the religion of Jesus Christ that ought to be wonderfully appealing to the business man.

“What!” you exclaim. “Surely you must be mistaken. Why, I can scarcely think of more than a half dozen good business men—really good ones—who are even professed Christians.”

Yet I repeat, with ever increasing emphasis, that in my humble opinion, there ought to be a greater percentage of business men in the church of Jesus Christ than of any other class. Why?—Because, first, in order to be a successful man of business, one must accustom one's self to weighing evidence, both pro and con; second, one must appreciate the value of time; third, he must sense the necessity of making preparation for the future. Lacking these three qualifications, no man, however clever he may be by nature, can hope to attain any measure of success as a business man.

“Well,” you say, “I grant you this much; but what has all this to do with the matter of becoming religious—in other words, a Bible Christian?”

I am just now thinking of a man, a former friend of mine, who met with a painful, and sudden death some years ago. This man possessed all the qualifications above mentioned in at least sufficient degree to become what the world calls a successful man. He was noted for his desire and his ability to weigh evidence. Consequently, in all matters pertaining to business, he generally arrived at the truth. Had he been satisfied with less than this, his business must have suffered. Besides this, he knew the value of time. This he considered as his greatest asset. Furthermore, our friend fully believed in preparing for the future—that is, so far as the relieving of future temporal needs was concerned. His family never suffered for the necessities of life. His wife and children were well fed and well clothed. This much was assured, because the husband and father obeyed the first part of our text carefully.

But he never went any farther; he ignored the last part entirely. I used often to wonder about this. He was so careful to weigh every evidence pertaining to his business, that I wondered why he was so careless about weighing the evidence of the truthfulness of God's word. And as he industriously improved his time to the best possible worldly advantage, it seemed strange that he gave no thought to eternity, and that the same foresight which led him to such diligence in laying up a goodly store of perishable riches to supply future imaginary needs, should not have been used in laying up treasures in heaven.

Too bad! And it was astonishing, too.

“But,” some one objects, “it is not possible to unite business with religion; they won't mix.”

A Religious Business Man

Well, that is not what one young man thought, and he was one of the most remarkable business men I ever heard of or read about. His story is wonderful. It ought to be an inspiration to every one, and especially to business men. While yet very young, this man was cruelly abandoned by his own relatives, and finally imprisoned at the instigation of an unscrupulous woman. Seemingly everything militated against a successful business career. But that young man became one of the greatest financiers whose biography has been left us. By his marvelous sagacity and business foresight, he supplied an entire nation with food, and even sold to others. He prevented wholesale starvation, by his simple and effective method of food distribution. His responsibilities were greater than those of a Morgan or a Rockefeller.

He was an intellectual giant. But this was not all; he was a spiritual giant as well. He was acquainted with God; and that which he did, the Lord made to prosper. Ah, there is the secret!

This is conclusive to my mind, even were this the only example, that Christianity and godliness ought to appeal to the business man. Oh, why should the days pass by with no thought of eternity? Surely there is no day however crowded with care, but that the busiest of us might find time for one earnest prayer, one grateful acknowledgment to Him who alone ‘giveth us power to get wealth.’

But wait! I hear somebody speak. It is a very busy man, but he turns his head away from his ledger just long enough to answer me. His eyes are weary and restless, and there are dark lines beneath them. His cheek and brow are flushed and feverish. The hand that holds the pen which poises over the ledger trembles a little. Hear him:

“I have a family dependent upon me. If I fail, they must suffer. I have not yet made good. I want a home of my own. When my business stands upon a firm basis, then I will prepare for the other world. I must look out for the realities first. I must not neglect a certainty for an uncertainty.”

You want a home, my friend? That is a very laudable desire. Please listen; I have the greatest real estate proposition you ever listened to. I am sure it will appeal to you:

The Lord Jesus Christ is offering you a mansion in a city which He has taken the pains to describe very minutely. In the last two chapters of the Book, He gives you a description of it, which will thrill your soul to read. He gives the length of the city, and the breadth of it. He describes the composition of its walls, and the very material that composes its massive gates. He speaks of its lighting system. He names all the gems that garnish its immense, twelve-terraced foundation. He tells you about the fruit of the country, and of the wonderful river that gladdens its inhabitants; and as if this were not enough, you are told what material has been used in paving its shining streets.

Surely you will want one of the mansions of this wondrous city. Best of all, it is free. The invitation is alike to rich and poor. Listen as the sweet voice rings and echoes down the ages. The same invitation holds good to-day:

“Whosoever will, let him come.”

Then let us rejoice and be glad in the prospect, And anchor our faith in His glorious word; And soon the fair mansions of beauty we'll enter, And evermore rest in the arms of the Lord.