Rich Young Man
167
He could send means from heaven to carry on His work; but this is
out of His order. He has ordained that men should be His instruments,
that as a great sacrifice was made to redeem them, they should act a
part in this work of salvation, by making a sacrifice for one another,
and by thus doing show how highly they prize the sacrifice that has
been made for them.
I was directed to
James 5:1-3
: “Go to now, ye rich men, weep
and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are
corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver
is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and
shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together
for the last days.”
I saw that these fearful words apply particularly to the wealthy
who profess to believe the present truth. The Lord calls them to use
their means to advance His cause. Opportunities are presented to them,
but they shut their eyes to the wants of the cause, and cling fast to
their earthly treasure. Their love for the world is greater than their
love for the truth, their love for their fellow men, or their love for God.
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He calls for their substance, but they selfishly, covetously, retain what
they have. They give a little now and then to ease their conscience,
but have not overcome their love for this world. They do not sacrifice
for God. The Lord has raised up others that prize eternal life, and that
can feel and realize something of the value of the soul, and they have
freely bestowed their means to advance the cause of God. The work
is closing; and soon the means of those who have kept their riches,
their large farms, their cattle, etc., will not be wanted. I saw the Lord
turn to such in anger, in wrath, and repeat these words: “Go to now, ye
rich men.” He has called, but you would not hear. Love of this world
has drowned His voice. Now He has no use for you, and lets you go,
bidding you: “Go to now, ye rich men.”
Oh, I saw it was an awful thing to be thus forsaken by the Lord—a
fearful thing to hold onto a perishable substance here, when He has
said that if we will sell and give alms, we can lay up treasure in heaven.
I was shown that as the work is closing up, and the truth is going forth
in mighty power, these rich men will bring their means and lay it at
the feet of the servants of God, begging them to accept it. The answer
from the servants of God will be: “Go to now, ye rich men. Your
means is not needed. Ye withheld it when ye could do good with it in