RICH MEN by Frank Hope

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 24, 1887

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 13, No. 12.

RICH MEN.

By Frank Hope

THE Bible condemns rich men; its whole verdict may be summed up in the words of Christ, "Woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation." Punishment is also promised to the rich. James says, "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you." In the last days the rich men are found among those who call to the mountains and rocks to fall upon them and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb. In another place they are represented as flinging their gold and silver to the moles and to the bats, for "riches profit not in the day of wrath." Jesus said to his disciples: "Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of Heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." This is a very strong statement, and must signify that being "rich" must mean something more than the mere possession of earthly goods; if it were not so, well might we cry with the disciples, "Who then can be saved?" but Christ says, "With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."

It is not to be supposed that only those men who happen to be the possessors of extensive property are to be classed among those whom the Bible terms rich. It is not so much the mere possession of means that condemns a man, as the trust and affection that are bestowed on them. In this sense it does not take an abundance of means to bring a man under condemnation as being rich. There is such a thing as a rich poor man, that is, a poor man who has a morbid desire for gain. The amount has not so much to do with it as the motive; for the Lord looks at the heart. When the widow cast her two mites into the treasury, Christ said that she had cast in more than all the rest. This principle applies both ways. If the Lord is pleased with the spirit with which two mites are given, he will be just as much displeased with the spirit which withholds two mites; and he can see in a group of men one who comes under the condemnation of being "rich," although in a worldly sense he is the poorest man present. The man who is poor may be regarded by the Lord as "rich," for the Lord sees that he trusts in riches.

On the other hand, because a man happens to be the possessor of much earthly treasure, it does not necessarily follow that he will be condemned by the Bible as being "rich." Abraham, we read, "was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold," yet he is called "the friend of God." Job was another very wealthy man, yet the Lord calls him a perfect and upright man, for he with his riches was eyes to the blind and a father to the poor; he caused the widow's heart to sing for joy, and he says, "The cause which I knew not I searched out." These men delighted to use their means for good, and to the glory of God. Their riches were a blessing to them. But it is covetousness that condemns a man. It is the desire to lay up treasure for himself that severs him from God. Says the apostle, "They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition." Of these men Christ demands an unconditional surrender of all their worldly possessions. When the young man came to Christ and asked what he might do to inherit eternal life, Jesus told him that he only lacked one thing to be perfect, and said to him, "Sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor." He had to give up all, and because he would not do this he lost eternal life.

Men who of their abundance give to the poor, do not by so doing free themselves from the condemnation of being rich, although by the world they may be regarded as good and charitable men. The Jews believed that if a man was wealthy, it followed that he was a good man, for the Lord had blessed him. Jesus, to correct this idea, said, "A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth," and then related the parable of the rich man whose ground brought forth abundantly so that he had not room for his fruits. He then said in his heart, "I will pull down my barns, and build greater." But God said to him, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee." From this it is evident that he lost eternal life. No doubt this man was regarded by the world as a good, moral, and upright man, for his only fault was that he laid up treasures for himself and was not rich toward God; in other words, he was a rich man.

What the Bible evidently condemns as a rich man is one who gets treasure for a selfish purpose; in fact, any man who does not recognize that he is only the steward of God, must be condemned in like manner. No man is the real owner of anything, but is simply the servant to whom God delivers his goods with the injunction to "occupy till I come;" and any moment the call may come, "Give an account of thy stewardship." If this truth were kept more in mind, there would be less money spent by professed Christians upon self, fashion, and appetite, and people would be more cautious in the use of that which is not their own, lest at the last they hear the fearful words, "Thou mayst no longer be my steward." FRANK HOPE.