THE OBLIGATIONS OF WEALTH.
By G.
THE Word of God does not reckon prosperity according to visible possessions. One may have much material wealth and yet be poor; and he may be poor in purse and yet be “rich in faith.” The Scripture reckons faith as real wealth. “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the proving of things not seen.” Heb. 11:1, R.V. In the same chapter are instances that prove the substantial reality of faith. There is given a long list of persons whose faith materialized in practical results,—“who thru faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again,” etc. Verses 33–35. The prophet Hosea said, “Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself.” The margin reads, “a vine emptying the fruit which it giveth.” The thought is that Israel wasted his substance in self-gratification, and was unfruitful toward God. “According to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.” Chapter 10:1. The consequences of this are also published: “Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty; He shall break down their altars, He shall spoil their images.” Verse 2. And so it must be with all whose efforts in life are put forth to selfish ends, whose aims are the enjoyment of the present life. “He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption.” Gal. 6:8. In like strain Hosea continues: “Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies; because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.” But in the very midst of these and other like denunciations is the encouraging admonition: “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, till He come and rain righteousness upon you.” Now the lesson of Israel’s chastisement is for our learning. His material prosperity was expended in the purchase of carnal enjoyment. The abundant products of the soil were not in any measure returned to God, who gave them; they went to the maintenance of idol-worship and the heathen orgies that ministered to the lusts of the flesh. Therefore Israel as a nation was scattered to the four winds, never again to be known as a nation in the natural seed. The sentence was, “In a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off;” and it was so. The history of Israel was a striking illustration of the failure of any attempt to serve God and mammon. In bringing forth fruit unto himself, his heart was turned away from the true God, and he naturally went after other gods. “The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Rom. 8:7. Israel sought pleasure in the licentious worship of the gods of the heathen, and the fruit of his labor was diverted in that direction. This fixed the heart there all the more firmly; for “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matt. 6:21. It is just as true with us as it was with ancient Israel that “ye can not serve God and mammon.” No one can bring forth to himself and be “rich toward God.” The Lord says he is a “fool” who “layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” And He has left us a special injunction to “take heed and beware of covetousness; for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Luke 12:15. It is this spirit of covetousness that leads men—even professing Christians in these last days—to “heap up treasures” at the expense of the poor. But it is not confined to those who succeed in so doing; for many are just as anxious to become rich in the treasures of earth who do not succeed. It is not always the possession of wealth that makes one covetous; it is in the desire to be wealthy that the danger lies. The apostle Paul gives us pointed counsel on this point. He says:— “Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will [are anxious to] be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves thru with many sorrows.” 1 Tim. 6:6–10. Paul also tells us that a covetous man is an idolater (Eph. 5:5), and this without reference to whether he be rich or poor in this world’s goods. If by honest means wealth comes to your hand, “thou shalt remember the Lord thy God; for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth.” Deut. 8:18. One thus favored is only a steward of the Lord; the wealth is not his own. For “ye are not your own;” “ye are bought with a price.” All that a bond-servant has really belongs to his master. And the Lord adds this warning to those to whom He has given power to get wealth: “If thou do at all forget the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.” Deut. 8:19. But there are also promises of blessings in material things, to those who are faithful in their use. Here is one: “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase; so shall thy barns be filled with plenty.” Prov. 3:9, 10. And here is another, which must suffice for this article: “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Mal. 3:10. G.