Infinite Reservoirs continued The result of that transaction when complete was that something more than $6,000 came to the treas ury when it was very greatly need ed, and when it not only met pres ent requirements, but contributed largely toward the securing of the fund for endowment to which ref erence has before been made. .. Some time after this transaction had been completed, perhaps two years, I received word from a stranger in Missouri, notifying me that a relative in Kansas had made the college one of his heirs, and re questing that we look after the mat ter. Taking up this subject, we learned that a gentleman residing in Kansas had left three-fourths of his property to the college and the remaining one-fourth to a local beneficence in which he was inter ested. There was no reason why this gift should not have been paid over at once; but various interested per sons, who desired to secure a por tion of it for themselves, prevented the immediate settlement which might have been made and which would have accomplished the desire of the testator. Nevertheless, when the matter was finally concluded, the college received more than $10,000 from that estate, $6,000 of which was passed to the endow ment account, the remainder being used for current expenses. f About two years ago we received word from New Hampshire that a lady there, also a stranger to us, and to whom no request had been proffered, so far as we have any knowledge, by any officer or friend of the institution, had directed the executor of her estate to pay to the college the sum of $3,000. This sum less the inheritance tax has just been received by the institution, so that we have the record of more than $20,000 which has been pro vided for the work of the institu tion without any intervention in the way of agencies or requests. This will to some not appear to be a significant fact; to me it ap pears very significant, indicating the power and disposition of God to
provide for the needs of the insti tution by direct impulse on the minds and hearts of men and wom en rather than through the solici tation of Others. Why then should we not discon tinue agencies? I think this ques tion is inevitable. It naturally rises in the minds of thoughtful people. If God is able, and if He is disposed to provide for His work and the needs of His Church without hu man effort, why should we not dis continue all effort, making our pe titions to Him and to Him alone? The answer is that for some of God’s children this is undoubtedly the method which should be pur sued. “The Life of Trust” by George Muller seems to be decisive in re gard to that subject. There have also been in various parts of the world other great e n t e r p r i s e s which have been carried forward in the same manner, that is, by direct petition to God without the employment of any human instru mentalities whatever. It is my impression that this method of carrying on the Lord’s work is in important respects more honorable to our heavenly Father, more stimulating to faith and more an occasion of g r a t i t u d e a n d thanksgiving than other methods which the Lord’s people sometimes seem directed to use. I remember a valued friend, hav ing learned to receive things from God in answer to prayer, who said to me, speaking of this subject: “My motto is, ‘Trust God, and tell His people.’ ” There is a reason for this method also, as anyone will see who will consider the matter; and, while I am still of the opinion that the former method is the ideal, and should be employed whenever one is so directed, I am of the opin ion that the second method, which is not always best, may sometimes be the divine plan for God’s people. There are a number of reasons for this opinion. In the first place, there is the re sulting communion of saints, both in the imparting of information
and in the sharing of God’s mater ial gifts. In the Jewish system there was a careful provision for the meeting and communion of God’s chosen ones. Three times in the year the adult Israelites had their great gatherings. They spent days togeth er. They were entirely free from ordinary occupations. There was a time for what we should call visit ing, which is in itself a means of grace, and which is sadly neglected in our own time. My impression is that, if those who represent God’s work are consecrated men and women, the necessary meeting with other people individually and in assemblies is of itself a means of grace. There is also the truth indicated by the proverb, “Information is in spiration.” God employs all the knowledge which His people pos sess as a means of inspiring them for His work. S om e t im e s t h i s knowledge is c omm u n i c a t e d through the printed page; reports are made, sent out, fall into the hands of earnest people who are ready to do whatever God wants, but who would not know what He wants did they not receive the in formation contained on the printed page. At times this same information may be communicated in a person al conversation in an office or a parlor. At other times it may be imparted through public addresses; but, no matter how* the work is done, God’s people need to be in formed about His work; and, if they are informed, then they will be led to do things which the Spirit would never suggest to them if they lacked the knowledge which is thus ac quired.
A bout th e A uthor Dr. Charles A. Blanchard was the second president of Wheaton College. This article is included in “Getting Things From God” (copyright 1915, 1934, Moody Press, Chicago).
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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