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Worldliness in the Church
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will be thus specially honored by the Master of assemblies? Are we
prepared without delay to open to Him immediately and welcome
Him in? Watch, watch, watch. Nearly all have ceased their watching
and waiting; we are not ready to open to Him immediately. The
love of the world has so occupied our thoughts that our eyes are
not turned upward, but downward to the earth. We are hurrying
about, engaging with zeal and earnestness in different enterprises,
but God is forgotten, and the heavenly treasure is not valued. We are
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not in a waiting, watching position. The love of the world and the
deceitfulness of riches eclipse our faith, and we do not long for, and
love, the appearing of our Saviour. We try too hard to take care of
self ourselves. We are uneasy and greatly lack a firm trust in God.
Many worry and work, contrive and plan, fearing they may suffer
need. They cannot afford time to pray or to attend religious meetings
and, in their care for themselves, leave no chance for God to care for
them. And the Lord does not do much for them, for they give Him
no opportunity. They do too much for themselves, and believe and
trust in God too little.
The love of the world has a terrible hold upon the people whom
the Lord has commanded to watch and pray always, lest coming
suddenly He find them sleeping. “Love not the world, neither the
things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love
of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of
the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the
Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust
thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”
I have been shown that God’s people who profess to believe
present truth are not in a waiting, watching position. They are
increasing in riches and are laying up their treasures upon the earth.
They are becoming rich in worldly things, but not rich toward God.
They do not believe in the shortness of time; they do not believe
that the end of all things is at hand, that Christ is at the door. They
may profess much faith; but they deceive their own souls, for they
will act out all the faith that they really possess. Their works show
the character of their faith and testify to those around them that
the coming of Christ is not to be in this generation. According to
their faith will be their works. Their preparations are being made to
remain in this world. They are adding house to house, and land to
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