Danger in Prosperity
131
Poor Rich Men and Rich Poor Men
Here the power of wealth is seen. The influence of the love of
money over the human mind is almost paralyzing. Riches infatuate,
and cause many who possess them to act as though they were bereft
of reason. The more they have of this world, the more they desire.
Their fears of coming to want increase with their riches. They have
a disposition to hoard up means for the future. They are close and
selfish, fearing that God will not provide for them. This class are
indeed poor toward God. As their riches have accumulated, they have
put their trust in them, and have lost faith in God and His promises.
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The faithful, trusting poor man becomes rich toward God by judi-
ciously using the little he has in blessing others with his means. He
feels that his neighbor has claims upon him that he cannot disregard
and yet obey the command of God, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor
as thyself.” He considers the salvation of his fellow men of greater
importance that all the gold and silver the world contains.
Christ points out the way in which those who have wealth, and yet
are not rich toward God, may secure the true riches. He says: “Sell that
ye have and give alms;” and lay up treasure in heaven. The remedy
He proposes is a transfer of their affections to the eternal inheritance.
By investing their means in the cause of God to aid in the salvation of
souls, and by relieving the needy, they become rich in good works, and
are “laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the
time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” This will prove a
safe investment.
But many show by their works that they dare not trust the bank
of heaven. They choose to trust their means in the earth, rather than
to send it before them to heaven. These have a great work to do
to overcome covetousness and love of the world. Rich poor men,
professing to serve God, are objects of pity. While they profess to
know God, in works they deny Him. How great is the darkness of
such! They profess faith in the truth, but their works do not correspond
with their profession. The love of riches makes men selfish, exacting,
and overbearing.—
The Review and Herald, January 15, 1880
.