KB 295
September, 1944
Having Nothing, Yet . . . By W . GRIST
even as she had' been in the high school class. About that time, news was circulated of a summer Bible conference to be held for university girls. I could send one delegate, a potential leader, from each of the classes that I taught. Who would be a better representative, 1 thought, than Miriam? Thus it was that I wrote and mailed the letter, inviting her to be a guest at the conference and explaining some of its outstanding features. Humanly speaking, -that was a fate ful letter, though I had no way of knowing it would be. I did not dream that Miriam’s father would intercept her mail. He had shown no marked antagonism before. But news travels fast, especially bad news, and soon 1 learned that Miriam had that night been beaten so severely that the police wpre-called; so severely that she had to be taken" to an emer gency hospital for medical attention. After thought and prayer, I sat down and wrote a, second letter, send ing it in care of another Hebrew Chris tian girl in the class. 'I knew that if there was any human way she would slip my letter to Miriam. Back through her underground sys tem came Miriam’s reply. I have it in my desk even yet. Often I read it for the spiritual blessing it brings to my heart. After a brief introduction in which she rather casually mentioned the beating, the disinheritance, the ^fact that, from then on for the course of at least a year she would be compelled to live a very abnormal life, she enu merated other restrictions: She was to be escorted to aifd from classes by an older brother; she was not to mingle with, nor even eat with, the other members of her beloved family. Her meals were to be brought to "the door of her room and she was to eat them in silence alone. She was forbidden by her parents to have any contact with any Bible club, church, or Christian friend; and she was to be privately in structed by the rabbi in an effort to bring her back to their orthodox faith. The letter concluded with a testi mony, the fragrance of which has grown sweeter with the years: “In the meanwhile, Miss Warner, do not worry; just pray. I have God’s greatest gifts: His Son, my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to be my con stant friend and companion; the bless ed Holy Spirit to be my teacher and comforter; His own precious Word to be my guide and my source of delight. “Yours in His loving grace, “Miriam. “P. S*i ‘I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor princi palities, nor powers, nor things pres ent, nor things TO COME . . . shall be able to separate ME from the love of [ Continued on Page 318]
■ HE WORDS in 2 Corinthians 6:10, “having nothing, yet pos sessing all th ings,” constitute one of those paradoxes in which Paul makes more bold a great affirmation." He is here opening out something of his intimate personal experiences, and we see that that great mind which so grasped and expounded the doctrines o f grace was accompanied by a great heart. Paul here presents a portrait not only of himself as a good minister of Jesus Christ, but of every believer as well. It is a portrait in contrasts. Having Joy "Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." This incomprehensible contradiction constituted the harmony of the Lord’s life. Though He was the Man of sor rows, yet He bestows His own joy that our joy may be full (John 15:11). Paul, too, had sorrow. The sickness of a dear friendi added “sorrow upon sor row” (Phil. 2:27). For the blindness of Israél what sorrow was his, and how burdened with grief was he for the sin that marred the church at Corinth (Rom. 9:2; 2 Cor. 2:3)! Nevertheless was he not both sor rowful and yet a l w a y s rejoicing? Over and over a g a i n we find his repeated exhortation to rejoice in the Lord, and his tracing of the source of thart joy to “joy and peace in be lieving” (Phil. 4:4; Rom. 15:13). The believer may not escape sorrows and disappointments, but b e n e a t h the storm-swept surface of a disturbed life there are the quiet deeps of joy. This joy cannot be had by being sought after for itself as a Separate quality. “The fruit, of the Spirit is . . . joy.” It issues as a product fsom the life of Christ in the believer, impregnating his whole- being. Christian, is this joy yours today? Having Richness "As poor, yet making many rich." To those merchants of Corinth, Paul must have seemed very poor. Yet he trafficked in a merchandise more pre cious than ever they handled — the things that outlast time itself. Again, how this seeming impossibility had been seen in Christ, of whom it is said, “Though he was rich, yet for .your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). The believer, however small his This message in amplified form appeared first in a magazine published in England THE LIFE OF FAITH .— EDITOR,
“ A n d G o d is abfe to m ak e all g r a c e ab ound toward y o u ; t h a t y e , al- w a y s h a v i n g all suffi- c ie n c y in all t h in g s m a y a b o u n d t o e v e r y g o o d wo rk ” (2 Co r. 9 : 8 ) .
stock of earthly goods may ' be, has much to give of that which wealth can not buy. To give, he must have. We cannot impart more of spiritual treasure than we ourselves possess, and that- stock must ever be in a state of repleoMh. ment. Let all Christian workers pause from time to time to ask, “What have I of real spiritual possession?” For that and no more can we impart. Where that is bestowed — even in a word, a look, or a smile—then is this contradiction realized, “as poor, yet making many rich,” Having All "As having nothing, yet possessing all things." We may have nothing per haps of the things on which men set value — of power and influence, of money that buys ease of mind — yet possess all things. “For all things are yours” (1 Cor. 3:21)—that is, for your possession and usîhg. There is one startling exception: “Ye are Christ’s” ; for “ye are not your own” (1 Cor. 6:19). It is only as we belong to Christ that we possess the “ all things,” and then is it that though having nothing we possess all things. What rich possessions has a believ er! Look at some of the items in his inventory: “We have peace with God"; “we have access to God by faith” ; “ through patience and comfort of the Scriptures we have hope” ; “wé hâve redemption through his blood” ; “we have a building of God, eternal in the heavens”—and overarching all these possessions, “He that hath the Son hath life.” Was ever one so rich! But these pos sessions are wily theirs who “have nothing”—nothing of merit, no claim on God’s royal bounty; no worthiness, "yet possessing all things.” , .
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