556
T HE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
September 1924
It is scarcely necessary to inquire how this deep, spiritual experience affected the use of this young man’s possess ions. His interest was immediately extended to a number of the most vital spiritual movements, to which he gave of his effort, counsel, and open-handed bounty. Following his death the opening of his will revealed a testamentary document so remarkable in character that it has become historic. Practically the entire fortune, amounting to more than one million dollars, was bequeathed to a number of missionary, evangelistic, and Bible-training movements, showing a depth of discernment and breadth of spiritual outlook unexampled in a man only twenty-five years of age. Other men of the new generation are catching this vision of the stewardship of life, and are finding a new purpose which lifts the life above the plane of self-indulgence, and the sordid business of mere money-getting to relate it to a divine plan for blessing mankind. A dozen years ago a young fellow brought up in one of the ritualistic churches where his heart-yearning remained unsatisfied, stepped into a noonday prayer-meeting for business men held in the basement of one of New York’s downtown churches. Here he received the vision of a life yielded in complete subjection to the will of Christ. The experience came at a stage when, after years of struggle against adverse circumstances, he had become successfully established in business, and the whole life perspective under-went an immediate change. The spirit and relations of the home felt a powerful new impulse; latent gifts for organization, soul-winning, and other forms of Christian service were discovered and brought into use. Finally a considerable and rapidly accumulating fortune was brought under Christ’s sway until today, through its ministry, he is aiding in the support of a score of spiritual interests extending around the world. True Stewardship These are but typical examples of modest, self-effacing stewardship which comprehends the entire life rather than the mere tithing of the income, which in itself can hardly be regarded as a spiritually stimulating or soul-enlarging process. It is perfectly clear, according to all spiritual standards, that servants of Christ, such as Luther, Wesley, Carey, Livingston, Spurgeon, and Moody, in giving themselves, made an offering to Christ far more costly and precious than the most princely endowment of any multi-millionaire. The real standard of value in the spiritual realm is the sur rendered will. When this surrender has been made, then the dedication of time, ability, and possessions follows as naturally as night follows day. Money which is not thus dedicated has small purchasing power in the spiritual sphere, while no limit may be placed on the potentiality of a life even moderately endowed but completely under the sway of the Divine Spirit. It is true that stewardship of money involves one of the most decisive tests of Christian character; but the steward ship of life is not alone the most vital, it is the all-inclusive test. In the din of self-interest and materialism, which so largely characterizes the spirit of the present age, it is to be feared there are but few who hear the accents of the voice of God. Yet to that devoted company of humble, inquiring disciples who tarry at the secret place for the full dis closure of His deepest thought and will, there comes the holy strain, as of an ancient hymn, the words, “Not yours, but you.”
fact that we seem to have almost universally accepted the idea that Christian testimony is to be reserved for the pulpit and uttered by ordained men. This is utterly foreign to Scriptural principles. There is a great field for lay effort even in public preaching, and opportunities along this line abound in every community. It is said there are more than twenty thousand laymen in England, who are rendering voluntary service as Gospel preachers in the Wesleyan denomination alone, holding a larger number of services each w.eek than all the ordained ministers of that body. If but a single such layman might be found in each of the Evangelical Churches of America it is clear that the existing force of preachers and evangel ists would be doubled at once and a mighty quickening would come to every interest of the Church of Christ. It is time that this vital question should be pressed home. Suppose you were asked this moment how recently you have witnessed in public or to a single individual concerning Christ’s saving power— what would the answer be?' If you were asked how recently you have written a letter on behalf of Christ or handed out a gospel or tract, or even prayed earnestly for an unsaved one, could you give a satisfactory reply? Would you attempt to explain that you are a con stant attendant at church, a regular contributor, an elder, deacon, or trustee? “I seek not yours, but you.” Facing the Question When this responsibility is pressed there are always some who will urge the limitation of time and the pressure of other duties. But let us be honest and face the question as to who has the supreme claim upon our time and strength? It is just here that there lies the great reproach resting upon multitudes who bear the Christian name. The fact is we organize our lives and assume responsibilities in utter independence of the claims of our Saviour. The question of setting apart a definite portion of our time for His sacred use and of seeking to develop capacities which will be effective in the advancement of His kingdom scarcely enters into the calculations of many of us. With feverish zeal we devote ourselves early^and late to training for business or professional demands, and yet can not find a half hour each day for Bible study, prayer, and Christian work. Is this an index of the value we place upon our redemption, or have we fallen into such callous indif ference that our highest obligation is forgotten and self- interest has usurped the place of Christ upon the- throne of our lives? There have been some in every generation to whom the stewardship of life has been a very real and blessed fact. Such have been the channels of all true Christian progress. Iiess than fifteen years ago a gifted Yale student of inde pendent fortune, having completed his college course, de cided to make a trip around the world. Visiting some of the mission stations in heathen lands, he was deeply impressed, but apparently unaffected as to his life plans. Returning by way of England he spent a Sunday in London, and seeing an announcement that Dr. Torrey was to preach in one of the great public halls, went to hear him. The main impression of the service does not appear to have been in the sermon, but in a message in song by a young lady who, with great feeling, sang the familiar hymn, “ I Sur render All.” That hour marked a life crisis, and returning, he determined to become a foreign missionary and to give his life to that most difficult field of work among the Mohammedans. Several years later, while studying the Arabic language in Egypt preparatory to service, he was seized with sudden fever and passed on to his reward.
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