SELECTIONS by J. M. B.

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 18, 1858

SELECTIONS.

By J. M. B.

Religion Should Cost us Something.

We hear much said about the freeness of salvation—so much so that some would almost make themselves believe it to be a sin to be at any expense on account of it. Hence the good brother rejoiced exceedingly to think that he had been a professor so many years, and it had cost him only twenty-five cents! How cheap! Worship God with nothing and have an excellent opportunity to accumulate the things of this world! But this is not the way the true Christian feels. He is ready to acknowledge that God has a claim upon his body, mind, and all that he possesses, and he feels bound at all times to act with reference to that claim. The consequence is, that his religion costs him something.

So it was with David when he desired to make an acceptable offering unto God, and worship him in such a manner as to avert existing calamities and secure his blessing. He needed a suitable place to build an altar, and appear before his God. The place, the sacrifice, the materials necessary, were all gratuitously offered him; but understanding that there is something more in true worship than the mere external act—that there must be a sacrifice—a giving up of the world, he says, "Nay, I will surely buy it of thee at a price." So he bought it, prepared it, and then worshiped God acceptably.

That which costs us nothing is worth nothing.

1. In our own estimation. So it is in regard to the things of the world. I do not say that nothing is useful which costs us nothing. The air which we breathe is of the greatest utility; yet we put no price upon it. It is considered as a symbol of nothing among men; and to offer it to God would be to offer him nothing. We estimate the value of things not so much according to their utility as according to their necessary cost. Things of no utility have their prices without which they cannot be obtained; and things that are useful have their prices graduated by the scarcity and consequent cost. This is the case with the metals. Let gold be as plenty as iron, and we might be as willing to exchange it as the aborigines of Mexico. Let it become as plenty as the sand and clay of our streets, and how would it differ from them in value? It might be made into vessels, and the labor expended would give it value just as it gives value to our glass and pottery ware. The fact is, if gold cost man nothing it would be worth nothing to him, and so with everything else.

That knowledge which requires the greatest sacrifice is, as a general rule, the most valuable to us. How soon will a child learn sin and folly! He will seem to catch almost instinctively that which is no benefit, while valuable discipline and erudition come only by severe study—by close and persevering application. In no other way can he become an adept in the arts, sciences, and literature. He must devote time and money to it. He must sacrifice ease and comfort for the sake of it. But there is no special effort required to devote the light literature of the day, and become an adept in vice.

The same principle is true in religion. If it requires nothing it amounts to nothing. If there is no letting go, and giving up, of the world—no sacrifice of time, talents—of pride, selfishness, there will be no benefit derived from it; and in proportion to the sacrifice will be the benefit. We must "Buy the truth and sell it not." There must be a "living sacrifice" for it. "Yes," says one, "but we are to buy it without money and without price." To be sure there is no specific sum of money required for it or indeed any money. The poor may have it without money, yet he may be properly said to buy it as well as the rich. He cannot have it for nothing, and if he offers a sacrifice which costs him nothing, he will receive a religion which is worth nothing. "But how is this?" says one. Christ told us, it is a "treasure hid in a field, the which when he hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof, goeth and selleth all that he hath and buyeth that field." It is the pearl of great price, which the finder could buy only at the sacrifice of all that he had. Matt. xiii, 46 . So it must be. No man can obtain true religion but by giving up all he has in his possession and affection. If he has money, he must make an entire surrender of that, as well as of everything else. Himself and all that belongs to him must be dedicated to God. Now if I am required to make such a sacrifice, it is futile—it is mere mockery for me to offer unto God that which costs me nothing.