The servants of Christ should labor faithfully
for the rich men in our cities, as well as for the poor and lowly.
There are many wealthy men who are susceptible
to the influences and impressions of the gospel message, and
who, when the Bible, and the Bible alone, is presented to them
as the expositor of Christian faith and practice, will be moved
by the Spirit of God to open doors for the advancement of the
gospel. They will reveal a living faith in the word of God and
will use their entrusted means to prepare the way of the Lord,
to make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
For years the perplexing question has been
before us: How can we raise funds adequate for the support of
the missions which the Lord has gone before us to open? We read
the plain commands of the gospel; and the missions, in both home
and foreign fields, present their necessities. The indications,
yea, the positive revelations of Providence, unite in urging
us to do quickly the work that is waiting to be done. The Lord
desires that moneyed men shall be converted and act as His helping
hand in reaching others. He desires that those who can help in
the work of reform and restoration shall see the precious light
of truth and be transformed in character and led to use their
entrusted capital in His service. He would have them invest the
means He has lent them, in doing good, in opening the way for
the gospel to be preached to all classes nigh and afar off.
Will not heaven be appreciated by the worldly
wise men? Oh, yes; there they will find rest and peace and repose
from all trifling, all ambition, all self-serving. Urge them
to seek for the peace and happiness and joy that Christ is longing
to bestow upon them. Urge them to give their attention to securing
the richest gift that can be given to mortal man--the robe of
Christ's righteousness. Christ offers them a life that measures
with the life of God, and a far
more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. If they accept Christ
they will have the highest honor, honor which the world can neither
give nor take away. They will find that in the keeping of the
commandments of God there is great reward.
The compassionate Redeemer bids His servants
give to rich and poor the call to the supper. Go out into the
highways and the hedges, and by your persevering, determined
efforts, compel them to come in. Let ministers of the gospel
take hold of these worldly moneyed men and bring them to the
banquet of truth that Christ has prepared for them. He who gave
His precious life for them says: "Bring them in, and seat
them at My table, and I will serve them."
Ministers of Christ, link yourselves up
with this class. Pass them not by as hopeless. Work with all
the persuasion possible, and as the fruit of your faithful efforts
you will see in the kingdom of heaven men and women who will
be crowned as overcomers to sing the triumphant song of the conqueror.
"They shall walk with Me in white," says the First
and the Last; "for they are worthy." Revelation 3:4.
Altogether too little effort has been put
forth for men in responsible places in the world. Many of them
possess superior qualifications; they have means and influence.
These are precious gifts, entrusted to them by the Lord to be
increased and used for the good of others.
Seek to save men of wealth. Entreat them to return to the Lord the treasures He has lent them in trust, that in New York and other great cities there may be established centers of influence from which Bible truth in its simplicity shall go forth to the people. Persuade men to lay up their treasures beside the throne of God by returning to the Lord their substance, enabling His workers to do good and to advance His glory.