DEMONSTRATED FAILURES

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 27, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 35.

DEMONSTRATED FAILURES.

II. Temporal Prosperity.

MEN who nominally acknowledge the importance of living Christian lives frequently defer the practical acceptance of the Gospel until they shall have acquired a certain measure of this world's goods. They seem to think that with a sufficient accumulation of wealth to insure a living, it will be more convenient to live out a Christian profession than when struggling with the problem of making a living in poverty, or even in moderate circumstances. But this whole question was demonstrated long ago, and it has been shown that material prosperity of itself is no help to spiritual attainment. On the contrary, when one's trust is placed in material things they become a decided detriment.

When the Lord would bring the children of Israel out of Egypt, He held out to them, as an inducement to follow His guidance, the promise of a land "flowing with milk and honey." This promise implied a far more prosperous temporal condition than that in which they were placed in Egypt. Of course the ultimate design was a better spiritual condition; for later on the promise was that they should be a "kingdom of priests, and an holy nation." But in Egyptian bondage the Israelites had degenerated into such a condition of worthlessness that nothing but the prospect of material gain would be any inducement to them to follow the leader sent to them by the Lord.

After the occupation of Canaan the people were several times granted extraordinary prosperity, but in every instance they became vain in their own conceit, apostatized from the One who prospered them, and turned unto idols. In such instances they did

not return to their allegiance to God until reduced to poverty and subordination to other nations. There is not a single instance on record where prolonged temporal prosperity did not result in spiritual declension. As with Sodom pride and idleness accompanied fulness of bread, it was so in greater degree when Israel prospered in worldly wealth.

The parable of the foolish rich man (Luke 12: 16-21) was given to illustrate the folly of laying up treasure on earth while neglecting to become "rich toward God." So also the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (ch. 16: 19-31) was given to show the sad mistake of those who trust in riches as a means of grace, or in any wise a help in spiritual attainment. Those who put off the matter of the soul's salvation until worldly affairs are placed in a satisfactory condition, just reverse the advice of the Saviour to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." They show utter unbelief of the Lord's promise that the things needful in this life "will be added" to those who make it their primary business to seek His kingdom and His righteousness.

Then we have the example of the rich ruler (ch. 18: 18-23) to demonstrate that the selfish possession of wealth is a positive bar to the portals of the everlasting kingdom. And the apostle Paul carries the matter even further, and says "they that will be rich [those who strive to be rich, whether they succeed or not] fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition." 1 Tim. 6: 9.

Thus we have it demonstrated by history and by divine testimony, that temporal prosperity, like long temporal life, becomes a curse unless consecrated to God in the spiritual life of the possessor. This is why God has chosen "them that are poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to them that love Him." James 2: 5, R.V. Those who shall have a part in that kingdom must love God "with all the heart;" and "if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 1 John 2: 15.