October, 1936
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
395
Friends, I’ wonder how much missions have really cost us o f heartfelt concern, of anguish in prayer, of self-denial and sacrifice in our money offerings. That word of derision—“ He saved others; him self he cannot save” (Mk. 15:31)—flung at Jesus as He hung upon the cross, ex pressed a profound truth. He could not save both Himself and others. Only by be ing willing to “lose” His own life could . He become the Saviour of the world. It was for Him a choice between two alter natives, and it is the same for us. We cannot “save” ourselves, in the sense of in dulging in our own selfish tastes and de sires and the carrying out our own ambi tious plans, and at the same time help Christ evangelize the world. ,W e can only do the one thing or the other. The actual fulfillment of our part in the carrying out of the great commission, whether in going, giving, or praying, must never be without the mark o f sacrifice upon it. God never intended that it should be, nor has He per mitted it to be a practicable possibility. When the Allied nations began their part in the World War, it was with the assumption and assurance that they would win. They sent their soldiers and their ships to the front, and the affairs at home —business, industry, pleasure, sport, and the like—continued much as usual. After a long and a painful experience that the war could not be won that way, these na tions awakened, changed their tactics, and the spectacle was presented of entire na tions laying themselves upon the altar in utter dedication of life and treasure, of time and talent, at the willing sacrifice of everything else to the one supreme obj ect —to win the war. Whether one went to the front or stayed at home, it made no difference; all alike gave themselves un reservedly and devotedly to the one great end: “We must win the war.” Then, and only then, was the war won. When the church of Christ gives itself in that same spirit o f utter surrender and dedication, to the same sacrificial extent in carrying out her risen Lord’s great commission, then the world will be evangelized. Some years ago, while I stood in Rome gazing at those magnificent paintings of Italy’s famous sculptor and artist, Michael Angelo, in the dome of St. Peter’s and other places, some one brought to my re membrance the story about Michael An gelo. One day he entered his studio to ex amine and appraise the work of a group of his pupils. He stood for some time thoughtfully contemplating the painting of a favorite pupil; then, to the amaze ment of those that stood by, he seized a brush, strode forward, and marred that painting by writing something across it. What could he mean? Was it to condemn the work of that pupil and dash to the ground his hopes? N o! The word was the Latin amplius, which means “larger.” In one sense Michael Angelo was pleased with the product o f his pupil. It showed fine skill of execution as far as it went. Only one thing was lacking—it did not go far enough. The picture was cramped, the design too limited. It needed more ample lines and broader scope. III. The Future Tent fo r Missions I wonder if God is not wanting to write that same word amplius or “larger,” across the page of our missionary vision and ef fort. W e may have done well, in a sense, as far as we have gone, but we have not
A CLARION CALL TO MISSIONARY ADVANCE [Continued from page 375]
ETERNAL VALUES 'T 'lM E is an impartial yet severe test of value. Money comes and goes, stocks rise and fall, buildings are used and decay. Returns from in vestments in this world are at best uncertain. What a contrast then is a work which “ gathereth fruit unto life eternal” (John 4:36)1 INVEST IN THE LORD'S WORK When you use your money to further men’s work, pass ing good or growing evil may result. When you put your money in trust with us to further the Lord's work, only lasting good can come of it. The Bible Institute Colportage Association of Chicago is an undenominational (interdenominational), thoroughly evangelical society, founded by D. L. Moody in 1894. Its object according to its charter is: "To circulate, distribute, make, publish, buy, sell and give away books, pamphlets, tracts, singing books, Bibles, Testaments, and evangelical religious publications, and to use any surplus funds of the Association in and about Bible and evangelical work." The years have tested and proven the soundness of Dwight L. Moody’s vision. The Gospel in its simplicity and power has been made available to rich and poor that men might understand the plan of salvation, grow in Christian living, and more effectively work for the Lord. True helievers, who desire to attach themselves to a living, vital, progressive. Gospel agency such as this, are in vited to fellowship in the support and enlargement of our ministry. This may be done in various ways: 1. Direct gifts— checks or currency. 2. Donation of bonds or stocks. (If the Income is needed during life, the security may be placed with us in trust.) 3. Provide for a legacy or bequest by last will and testament. 4. Assign to the Colportage Association any rights to unsettled estates, or rents and income from any property. 5. Name the Association as a beneficiary under a life insurance policy. 6. Loan funds to be used without interest; or give an estate note. L egal F orm of B equest J " I hereby give, devise and bequeath unto The Bible Institute Colportage Association of Chicago, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Illinois, the sum of......................................................Dollars, to be paid out of any real or personal estate owned by me at my decease." Write today for free copy of booklet "These Forty Years." Please mention King’s Business, and indicate how you would prefer to help this work. "These Forty Years" will inspire you with the "eternal value" that our Gospel efforts can create with your aid. Write today. The BIBLE INSTITUTE COLPORTAGE Ass’n 810 No. Wells Street, Chicago, Illinois gone far enough. Is He not calling us to revive Carey’s motto and to attempt great —yes, greater—things for God, to expect great—yes, greater—things for God in the missionary realm? We need to go for ward, to set the goal out farther. Wider vision, deeper consecration, stronger faith are needed. These will issue in larger re inforcements, mightier intercession, and more worthy giving. Above all, we need that enlargement of heart that will mean deeper, more devoted, more passionate love to Christ Himself. That enlargement is our greatest need and it lies at the very root of the great unsolved problem and unfinished task o f world-wide missions. We are looking for the Lord’s coming, are we not? Let us remind ourselves that we shall have a whole eternity in which to enjoy, worship, and adore Him, but we have only a little while longer on earth in which to work, witness, and win souls for Him. Shall we not, then, redeem the time by throwing all of our powers and re sources as never before into this task of carrying out His last expressed wish and uttered command? Let us all take to our selves the admonition, nay, rather the man date, “ Enlarge the place of thy tent,” and resolve by His enabling grace and power working in us that our part in this glo rious enterprise for Christ and His king dom shall henceforth be a larger one.
the seventy-third and the seventy-fourth ones of the China Inland Mission, we get some idea of the sacrificial cost of mis sions. . _ A few years ago, I was in England when a cablegram brought the heart breaking word that two brave pioneers in the most distant outpost of our work had fallen. One of them was a brilliant young Scotch doctor who had entered upon a lucrative practice at home. Having heard and yielded to God’s call, he set aside his bright prospects at home, responded/ and went. With five other choice young men, he negotiated a heroic trek across Mongolia and the Gobi desert in trucks equipped with all that was needed for two thousand miles of journeying across un charted plain, desert, and mountain range. Upon reaching their destination in Chi nese Turkestan they found a bloody revo lution in progress with mutilated victims everywhere needing help. The doctor flung himself into the desperate task of treating surgically ghastly wounds of every de scription, his companions assisting as they could. The strain proved too much for his strength, and after six weeks of giving his life for those poor sufferers, he contracted typhoid fever and succumbed. The cable gram came to the Mission’s London office and was relayed to the family in Glasgow. The father, a prosperous merchant, was supporting the son and also a daughter in China. The dear mother was lying ill on what proved to be her deathbed. When they read the message, they bowed to gether in humble submission and silent prayer before God ; then a telegram read ing, “Thou art worthy, O Lord. W e have no regrets,” .was sent to the Mission head- ,quarters. In this incident, something is seen of the sacrificial cost of going and of offering loved ones to go. Upon our hearts and minds must be impressed the fact that there should be no less that sacrificial fac tor in our giving and praying at this end for the support of missions than in the going and all that it involves to the ones sent. God does not have two standards, one for the home base and another for the far-flung battle line yonder. The length ening of the cords and the strengthening o f the stakes are inseparably related. There must be sacrificial praying. True missionary intercession is always sacrifi cial. It takes time, it takes self-denial, it takes the pushing resolutely aside of pleas ure and all secondary things. It calls for the safeguarding of that hour set apart for pleading with God on behelf of the work and workers in the field, and not allowing intrusion or interruption. Intercessory prayer is no pastime. It is labor ; it is travail of soul; it takes all there is of a man or woman. Giving likewise should be sacrificial. David, even under the law, scorned to offer unto the Lord that which cost him nothing. What about ourselves? We have Jesus’ warm commendation of the widow’s gift. Her two mites meant more to Him than great treasure; her gift was one of supreme sacrifice. There was Mary’s ala baster box of ointment. Mary was not a woman of high social position ; therefore it must have meant rigid economy and self- denial over a long period in order for her to save enough to purchase that costly spikenard to pour upon her Saviour as a token o f the love of her heart.
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