There's a period of my life that I look back on with fond memories. In 1995 I had the opportunity to be a part of Lake Cities Bible Church in Lake Dallas, Texas and our pastor's name was David Kunz. We were going through seminary at the time and what I remember was the reading group that met weekly to discuss different books. We read things like John Owen's Sin and Temptation and Don Whitney's Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian life. This season of my life was my introduction to Banner of Truth publishing and I specifically remember David saying ( of that publisher): " they don't print junk." As a result, whenever I'm in a used book store I usually look at the publisher and author rather than the title as I walk through the shelves. One book I have never seen in a used book store is Revival and Revivalism by Iain Murray, so to own a copy I had to look to the publisher. I can tell you that I have no regrets. The vocabulary is challenging at times, but anything meaningful usually requires an effort. I was reading about the history of the Baptists around the time of the revolutionary war and came across this quote from Robert Semple who was 14 years old at the time of the war. He said:
"The war, though very propitious to the liberty of the Baptists, had an opposite effect upon the life of religion among them. As if persecution was more favorable to vital piety than unrestrained liberty, they seem to have abated in their zeal, upon being unshackled from their manacles. This may be ascribed to several causes... Perhaps many did not rightly estimate the true source of liberty, nor ascribe its attainment to the proper arm. In consequence of which God sent them liberty, and with it leanness of soul. This chill to their religious affections might have subsided with the war, or perhaps sooner, if there had not been subsequent occurrences which tended to keep them down. The opening of a free trade by peace served as a powerful bait to entrap professors who were in any great degree inclined to the pursuit of wealth. Nothing is more common than for the increase of riches to produce a decrease of piety. Speculators seldom make warm Christians. With some few exceptions the declension was general throughout the State. The love of many waxed cold. Some of the watchmen fell, others stumbled, and many slumbered at their posts. "
I'm not saying he was 14 when he wrote those words but he was 14 during the war. These comments are his reflections years after the war. The sentence in that quote that grabbed my attention was this one: " Nothing is more common than for the increase of riches to produce a decrease of piety." This really makes me think about how money affects our spiritual life. Sometimes, when we are "well fed" it tends to make us spiritually lethargic, so what do you do if you happen to have a lot of money ?
I would think that part of the answer would be to give generously and share. Keep putting yourself in a place of dependence on God. If you are in debt, you should pay off that debt, but then get to the place where you are giving sacrificially. The Bible affirms that the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil. How can you avoid falling in love with money ? I find things in myself that I despise when it comes to thinking about money. Greed has walked through my mind more often than I care to admit and it has this tendency to take over and control and connive for more and more money. There's a phrase from the book of Jeremiah that bothers me : "they were well fed lusty stallions." Biblically speaking, when we are full of the world, it dulls our spiritual appetite. How can you avoid this condition ?
1. Remember that wealth spreads wings and flies away. ( Prov 23)
2. The rich man and his pursuits will fade away. ( James 1)
3. We brought nothing into the world ... and we will leave the world with nothing. ( I Tim 6)
4. The desire for riches is a snare and can often cause people to shipwreck their faith.
5. Men have plunged into ruin and destruction because of money. ( Enron)
6. The love of it is a root of all sorts of evil.
7. People have been pierced with many griefs longing after money.
8. Alot of money can make you conceited if you are not guarded about it.
9. Here on the earth, our "treasures" can rust and be eaten by moths...
10. Our treasure is related to the condition of our heart. They are vitally connected.
When the Baptists in the 1700's were set free from British rule, their spiritual life declined because they shifted their dependence from God to money. Don't follow their example.
If you are poor right now, James says you should glory in your high position. However, if you are rich, beware of the fact that an increase in riches often leads to a spiritual decline.
