Ralph Spaulding Cushman: We are in a state of emergency and the need of the hour is not money, but a new church!

“There is a present world emergency; that it is a call for Christians to repent of unfaithfulness in stewardship, failure to put Christ and the kingdom first (Luke 14:33); that the need of the hour is not money, but a new church, and a new race of Christians who actually will put Christ and the kingdom first; that as a matter of history and experience this fullness of consecration is evidenced by the placing of property on the altar (Acts 4:32).”

Ralph Spaulding Cushman (1879-1960) in The New Christian: Studies in Stewardship (New York: Methodist Episcopal Church, 1919) 120.

Take no thought for your life. Matthew 6:25

A warning which needs to be reiterated is that the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things entering in, will choke all that God puts in. We are never free from the recurring tides of this encroachment. If it does not come on the line of clothes and food, it will come on the line of money or lack of money; of friends or lack of friends; or on the line of difficult circumstances. It is one steady encroachment all the time, and unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the standard against it, these things will come in like a flood.

Take no thought for your life. “Be careful about one thing only,” says our Lord, “your relationship to Me.”

Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) in My Utmost for His Highest (Oswald Chambers Publications Association, 1963), reading for January 27.

“The time is overdue for a sane, scriptural, spiritual teaching of the law of stewardship. We have not linked the stewardship of property with the consecration of the stewardship of life. A widespread revival of the teachings of Christian stewardship will not only insure an adequate support of the cause of Christ, but will bring about a deepening of the spiritual life of the church as its principal result.”

Homer C. Stuntz (1858-1924) missionary, bishop, quoted in The New Christian: Studies in Stewardship by Ralph Spaulding Cushman (New York: Methodist Episcopal Church, 1919) 131-132.

“One great reason why the rich, in general, have so little sympathy for the poor, is, because they so seldom visit them. Hence it is, that, according to the common observation, one part of the world does not know what the other suffers. Many of them do not know, because they do not care to know: they keep out of the way of knowing it; and then plead their voluntary ignorances an excuse for their hardness of heart. “Indeed, Sir,” said person of large substance, “I am a very compassionate man. But, to tell you the truth, I do not know anybody in the world that is in want.” How did this come to pass? Why, he took good care to keep out of their way; and if he fell upon any of them unawares “he passed over on the other side.” [cf. Luke 10:25-37]

John Wesley (1703-1791) in Sermon 98, which is titled: On Visiting the Sick, though it might be better rendered: On Visiting the Sick and the Poor. Click here to read the sermon. It moved me this morning and I commend it to you!

I am pleased to share that my wife returned safely from Guatemala City last night, where she has been serving the Treasures of the garbage dump with Potter’s House. We have found great joy in serving the poor in His name.

This was Jenni’s fourth trip in 18 months. She was joined by her mother, Wilma Pickrell, whose life was touched and who may return. We feel called to invite others to join us so don’t be surprised if your are invited in the days to come.

“If you would be kept from gross scandalous sins, beware of a covetous heart. Covetousness is a dry drunkenness. He who thirsts insatiably after the world, will stick at no sin, he will betray Christ and a good cause for money. 1 Tim. 6:10. The love of money is the root of all evil.

From this root comes: First, theft. Achan’s covetous humour made him steal a wedge of gold. Josh. 7:21. Covetousness makes the jowls so full. 

Secondly, From this root comes murder. Why did Ahab stone Naboth to death, but to possess his vineyard? 1 Kings 21:13. Covetousness hath made many swim to the crown in blood.

Thirdly, from this bitter root of covetousness proceeds cozenage [fraud]: It is the covetous hand that holds false weights.

Fourthly, from this Root of covetousness comes Uncleanness. You read of the hire of a Whore, Deut. 23:18. For money she would let both her conscience and chastity be set to sale.

O if you would be kept from the evil of sin, beware of covetousness which is the inlet to so many sins.”

Thomas Watson (1620-1896) English Puritan Preacher in A Body of Practical Divinity: One Hundred Seventy Six Sermons on the Lesser Catechism (London: Thomas Parkhurst, 1692) 873.

“O take heed of this squint eye to our profit, pleasure, honour, or anything beneath Christ and heaven; for they will take away your heart, as the prophet saith of wine and women, that is, our love, and if our love be taken away, there will be little courage left for Christ.”

William Gurnall (1617-1679) famous Puritan clergyman known for the classic work, “The Christian in Complete Armour” (page 8) which is his treatise on the saints’ war against the devil (Ephesians 6:10-20).

“If we spend our lives in the pursuit of a temporal happiness: if we set our hearts on riches, and seek happiness in them; if we seek to be happy in sensual pleasures; if we spend our lives in seeking the credit and esteem of men; the goodwill and respect of others; if we set our hearts on our children, and look to be happy in the enjoyment of them, in seeing them well brought up, and well settled, etc. All these things will be of little significance to us. Death will blow up all our hopes and expectations, and will put an end to our enjoyment of these things…

We are designed for this future world. We are to be in two states; the one in this world, which is an imperfect state; the other, in the world to come. The present state is short and transitory; but our state in the other world is everlasting…Our state in the future world, therefore, being eternal, is of so exceedingly greater importance than our state in this world, that it is worthy that our state here, and all our concerns in this world should be wholly subordinate to it…God hath made us for himself…

There is but a very imperfect union with God to be had in this world; a very imperfect knowledge of God in the midst of abundance of darkness; a very imperfect conformity to God, mingled with abundance of enmity and estrangement. Here we can serve and glorify God, but in an exceeding imperfect manner; our service being mingled with much sin and dishonor to God.

But when we get to heaven (if ever that be), there we shall be brought to a perfect union with God. There we shall have clear views of God. We shall see face to face, and know as we are known. There we shall be fully conformed to God, without any remainder of sin. We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. There we shall serve God perfectly…In heaven alone is the attainment of our highest good. God is the highest good of the reasonable creature. The enjoyment of him is our proper happiness; and is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied.

To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Better than fathers and mothers, husbands, wives or children, or the company of any, or all earthly friends. These are but shadows; but the enjoyment of God is the substance. These are but scattered beams; but God is the sun. These are but streams; but God is the fountain. These are but drops; but God is the ocean.”

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), excerpt from a sermon delivered in 1733 entitled “The True Christian’s Life, A Journey Towards Heaven” in The Works of President Edwards vol. 4 of 4. (New York: Leavitt & Allen, 1852) 575.

“For a man to be proud of his riches, is as if a horse was proud of his trappings. Your riches are but thorns which, without great care, will penetrate your hands. Many names are given in Scripture to riches, to wean us from them, such as mammon of unrighteousness, riches that fly away and deceitful riches…O Christian, never be proud of things that are so transient, injurious, and uncertain as the riches of this evil world, but set your heart on the true and durable riches of grace in Christ Jesus.”

Isaac Ambrose (1604-1664) in The Christian Warrior (Westfield, Digital Puritan Press, 2013) 82, originally published in 1674 as War with Devils.

“Consider that a heart set on heaven will preserve the vigor of all your graces, and put life into all your duties. It is the heavenly Christian that is the lively Christian; and, on the other hand, it is our strangeness to heaven that makes us so dull and lifeless.

It is the end that quickens to the use of all the means; and the more frequently and clearly this end is beheld, the more vigorous will all our motions be. How unweariedly do men labor, and how fearlessly do the venture, when they have the prospect of a rich prize!”

Richard Baxter (1615-1691) in “Motives to Heavenly Mindedness” from the collection of his writings, The Saint’s Everlasting Rest; Or a Treatise on the Blessed State of the Saints in Heaven (Philadelphia: PNP, 1847) 245.

“The first century Christians enjoyed a sense of closeness and unity that caused the world to sit up and take notice. It’s one thing to talk of loving others; it’s quite another to sell one’s valuable possessions and give the proceeds to those less fortunate. Yet that kind of generosity was common in the Early Church. And that kind of selflessness is the essence of true fellowship.”

Philip Comfort & Dan Lins in Life Application New Testament Commentary notes on Acts 2:42-47 (Wheaton: Tyndale House, 2001) 488.