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Worldliness in the Church
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none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God
a ransom for him (for the redemption of their soul is precious, and
it ceaseth forever).” If all would bear in mind, and could in a small
degree appreciate, the immense sacrifice made by Christ, they would
feel rebuked for their fearfulness and their supreme selfishness. “Our
God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before
Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him. He shall
call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge
His people. Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have
made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.” Because of selfishness and
love of the world, God is forgotten, and many have barrenness of
soul, and cry: “My leanness, my leanness.” The Lord has lent means
to His people to prove them, to test the depth of their professed love
for Him. Some would let go of Him and give up their heavenly
treasure rather than to decrease their earthly possessions and make a
covenant with Him by sacrifice. He calls for them to sacrifice; but
the love of the world closes their ears, and they will not hear.
I looked to see who of those who professed to be looking for
Christ’s coming possessed a willingness to sacrifice offerings to God
of their abundance. I could see a few humble poor ones who, like
the poor widow, were stinting themselves and casting in their mite.
Every such offering is accounted of God as precious treasure. But
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those who are acquiring means, and adding to their possessions, are
far behind. They do comparatively nothing to what they might. They
are withholding, and robbing God, for they are fearful they shall
come to want. They dare not trust God. This is one of the reasons
that, as a people, we are so sickly and so many are falling into their
graves. The covetous are among us. Lovers of the world, also those
who have stinted the laborer in his hire, are among us. Men who
had none of this world, who were poor and dependent on their labor,
have been dealt with closely and unjustly. The lover of the world,
with a hard face and harder heart, has grudgingly paid over the small
sum earned by hard toil. Just so they are dealing with their Master,
whose servants they profess to be. Just in this grudging manner do
they put into the treasury of God. The man in the parable had not
where to bestow his goods, and the Lord cut short his unprofitable
life. So will He deal with many. How difficult, in this corrupt age,
to keep from growing worldly and selfish. How easy to become