BORROWED CAPITAL by Methodist Recorder

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 25, 1887

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 13, No. 33.

BORROWED CAPITAL.

By Methodist Recorder

A GREAT many men are trying to get rich on borrowed capital. They have little or no money of their own, but they think that by using other people's money they can amass a fortune. Sometimes they succeed, but more frequently they fail, involving themselves and others in trouble. A man had better be content with comparatively little, that he can call his own, than to possess a great deal that belongs to others. There are other men who do not borrow money, but they borrow brains, and attempt to build up a reputation by appropriating to their own use the fruit of other men's labors, who have used their brains to advantage. Borrowing brains is worse than borrowing money.

A man may use another man's money so as to increase it, but he cannot use another man's brains with equal success. The more he depends on other men's brains, the more feeble and helpless he becomes. A man had better use his own brains, and by that means develop and strengthen his mind, and acquire an honest reputation, although comparatively humble, to which he knows he is justly entitled, than to build up a great reputation on other men's labors, being conscious all the time that he himself is a fraud. But some men, if it were possible, would borrow grace to enable them to enter Heaven. The foolish virgins tried to borrow oil to get into the marriage feast; but they did not succeed. A great many people are imitating their example, and making no preparation for Heaven; but by associating with the people of God, they hope by some means to slip into the kingdom at last, although they have never had a particle of grace in their hearts. Pretense and shams will not succeed in anything. If there is anything worth having, try to secure it as your own, so that, like Mary's good part, it may not be taken from you.

—Methodist Recorder.