IN that passage where Christians are spoken of as poor (2 Corinthians 6:8-10), it is said that they are chastened and not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; “as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” George Müller was more than a seven-times millionaire, yet he possessed nothing. That is just what the genuine Christian experience is.BEST July 4, 1898, page 220.1

Read the first psalm. There it is said of the godly man, “And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” He will be a prosperous man in business, in work, everywhere. Of course it will take time, because his former training has been the other way; he must grow into the true way. We are to be merciful and kind to him, because he is poor. But at the same time we must be sure that he gets true Christianity in his soul. And when he has that grace, he will soon grow into a prosperous man; for “whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”BEST July 4, 1898, page 220.2

Now let me read from Job 22:21-25: “Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defense, and thou shalt have plenty of silver.”BEST July 4, 1898, page 220.3

In these times of controversy over the question of money,—whether it shall be gold or silver,—you see that Christianity is what the people need. Whether the money shall be gold or silver is neither here nor there. Get genuine Christianity, and then the other will come; you will “lay up gold” and “have plenty of silver.” The message for Seventh-day Adventists to preach is neither gold nor silver, but Christianity, which means both gold and silver. All must be taught, however, and must be trained in, this kind of Christianity.BEST July 4, 1898, page 220.4

Now do not get a wrong idea here of what is “plenty.” If I need nothing, even though I have nothing, I have a plenty. If I need what costs a nickel, and have the nickel, have not I a plenty? So it is with that which costs a dollar, or any amount. There is a misconception and a wrong education as to what is a plenty, which comes from depending upon what is of the world. People of this world think that a certain amount is a plenty; but when they get that, they have not even enough,—they must have more and yet more, until the amount reaches thousands, and even millions, and yet they are not satisfied. The Christian has a plenty all the time, because his dependence is upon God. God is with him,—he is one with him,—they are joined together. God knows what his need it; and when his dependence is upon God, and his energies are springing from God, he will work the works of God, and the fruit will be to the glory of God. And though as poor, he will be making many rich; though as having nothing, he will be possessing all things. That is true prosperity.BEST July 4, 1898, page 220.5

Again I read: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” Proverbs 3:5-10.BEST July 4, 1898, page 221.1

What are all these verses in the Bible for?—They are there to tell to you and me that the man who is a Christian is all right. They are not intended to tell that he will be rich as the world calls rich, but he will have plenty, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. That is Christianity.BEST July 4, 1898, page 221.2

The whole philosophy of Christianity is God manifest in the flesh. God says that he is our strength, he is our wisdom, his Spirit guides the mind. He himself is there. He is all in all to the Christian. When a man who has gone all his life without God, joins himself to God, and God’s life becomes his life, God’s strength becomes his strength, God’s wisdom becomes his wisdom, then has not he ability that he did not have before? and is not this ability given to him to use? When he has received God, and has Christ dwelling within, the very life of his life, his strength, his wisdom, has not he a power, a wisdom, an intellect,—ability of every sort,—that will make him more than he ever could have been without Christ? Then do you not see—it is as plain as A B C—that the man who professes to be a Christian, and does not make a better success in this life than before, has not Christianity? He is cheating himself by a mere outward profession of the thing, and is simply robbing himself of what belongs to him in this world and in the next.BEST July 4, 1898, page 221.3

A. T. JONES.

June 27, 1898

July 11, 1898