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A GOOD FOUNDATION

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 3, 1861

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 18, No. 14.

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A GOOD FOUNDATION.

By Uriah Smith

"Charge them that are rich," says Paul to Timothy. Many times the sacred writers have seemingly found it necessary to charge the rich. Riches are regarded in the word of God as a talent no less so than any other endowment. They seem also to be regarded as a more difficult talent to manage than many others, and more liable to perversion, if we may judge from the number of special directions and warnings given in reference to them. To a right use of them there are also many special promises. Let us continue the quotation already commenced: "Charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate." And what promise is appended to this course of action? It follows: "Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." 1 Tim. vi, 17-19. Glorious promise to those who are rich in this world's goods! Glorious end to be attained by a right use of the mammon of unrighteousness! Inestimable privilege of putting uncertain riches into such an investment with the certainty of so infinite a profit! A good foundation against the time to come, and a strong hold upon eternal life! Who can estimate the value of these in dollars and cents, or any of the advantages which they confer upon us here! And the great index-finger of the signs of the times is now pointing to the present day as the period in which they that are rich should haste to make good their title to this promise; for verily the time draws near when they, and all, will need a good foundation on which to rest. The "time to come" is opening before us: the time when it will not be sufficient to have our house built near the rock only; when it will not be enough to have some good stones amid the sand upon which it is founded; when it will not answer to have one end, merely, of the house upon the rock, and the other in the sand; but it must be all upon the rock and upon that alone. Happy they who when the storm comes shall find their house so founded! Happy they who then find that they have such a hold upon eternal life that there is no danger of the cable's parting in the hour of trial, and they being swept away into everlasting oblivion.
With the sentiment expressed by Paul to Timothy, above quoted, that with the right use of riches, eternal blessings and honors may be gained, agrees the parable of our Lord in Luke xvi, 1-12. The directions of verse 9 are, "And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, that when ye fail they may receive you into everlasting habitations." Here it is represented that the rich may so use the mammon of unrighteousness, or worldly riches, as to make everlasting friends thereby. Of whom can they make such friends? Answer: Of God, Christ, and good angels; and they, when the earth is removed like a cottage, and all things are shaken that can be shaken, will receive them into everlasting habitations.
Great then are the advantages, and precious the promises, but fearful the responsibilities involved in riches; for that malevolent being who is ever searching to take advantage of the weak points of human nature, has given them the power of charming with a double charm; and those who break not away from the influence of the unhallowed fascination, but bury their Lord's money, will wake at last, and soon, to the fearful sentence, "Go to now ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you." James v, 1. No wonder, therefore, that the Holy Spirit, through the sacred writers, has deemed it proper to give over and over, solemn charges to them who are rich in this world's goods. May all who are stewards of the unrighteous mammon, give them timely heed, and thus avail themselves of that which is given as a special promise to the rich, namely, to lay up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, and lay hold on eternal life. U. SMITH.