The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, vol. 66

July 9, 1889

“The Sermon. ‘Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods Before Me’ ¹” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 66, 28, pp. 433, 434.

BY A. T. JONES

(Battle Creek, Mich.)

TO-DAY I will call your attention to some passages of Scripture, to show you what it is to have other gods before the Lord. Turning to Job 31:24-28, we find that if we worship the sun or the moon, we have other gods. In ancient times, he who secretly or openly worshiped the sun as representing the One we cannot see, turned his face toward it; and the moon-worshipers—for instance, the Assyrians and Babylonians—kissed their hands to it as they worshiped, and as Job describes it. if we should do the same, we would deny God. None of us are inclined to do as these ancients did, yet we do see in the world to-day a sun-worship in the consecration of the sun-day, and its observance as a sacred day, being a part of, and adopted from, the ancient worship of the sun. In verses 24, 25, we find a still closer and more searching test. Job says that if he had made gold his hope, or had rejoiced because his hand had heaped together great riches, he should “have denied the God that is above.” Such trust or reason for rejoicing is as much a form of idolatry as would be sun-worship. The tendency of each is to alienate our minds and our hope from God, and so to slacken our hold upon him, and inevitably draw us away form him. ARSH July 9, 1889, page 433.1

It is natural to feel safer and more at ease with a good sum of money safely deposited in a bank, than when we have but a single dollar; but when this is the case, where, let me ask, is our trust? Is it not in our bank account? It is certainly not in God; for the man whose trust is in him, feels equally safe and at ease whatever sum he possesses. “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.” 1 Timothy 6:17. “For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.” Proverbs 23:5. “For in him we live, and move, and have our being.” Acts 17:28. Now, if a man has but a single dollar, and that be sufficient for his wants, has he not all that he needs? has he not enough? ARSH July 9, 1889, page 433.2

If the Lord chooses to prosper the work of my hands, and I hold it all subject to his order, I do well. This Paul tells Timothy: “That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.” 1 Timothy 6:18. Let us not get the idea that it is a sin to be rich or to make money. One of the very best men spoken of in the Bible (Job) was exceedingly rich; so was Abraham. God attached no reproach to either because of it. Paul says: “Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” Romans 12:11. These are necessary qualifications in order to please the Lord. Now, if a man is not slothful in his business, and has the faculty of turning goods into money, where is the sin? Not in the making of it, but in trusting in the wealth after it is accumulated. “Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.” 1 Timothy 6:6-9. It is not they who are rich, but they who want to be, those who set their heart upon accumulating riches, that fall into temptation and the snares. ARSH July 9, 1889, page 433.3

A man in business who follows his business, honoring the Lord and fearing him, prospers, and his prosperity honors and glorifies God. “Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God.” “And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God; for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth.” Deuteronomy 8:11, 17, 18. If we remember this, and are “diligent in serving the Lord,” being always “ready to distribute,” we honor God in using our means; but “the love of money is the root of all evil.” 1 Timothy 6:10. “But thou, O man of God, flee these things,” writes Paul to Timothy,—turn away from the love of money, or the desire to be rich. ARSH July 9, 1889, page 433.4

To know how to use our means that God may be pleased with us, let us turn and read what Job did with the wealth committed to him. By Ezekiel Job is classed with Daniel and Noah as righteous before the Lord. How, then, did he use his means? We find him saying that if he had withheld aught from the poor, wronged the widow, or eaten without considering the fatherless; had seen any suffer for clothing, or done anything against the orphan,—then, he says, “Let mine arm fall from my shoulder-blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.” It is safe to say that there are not many men living to-day who could take such an oath, expecting God to take them at their word, and not become one-armed men. ARSH July 9, 1889, page 433.5

What lesson is to be gathered from this?—Why, that humble, righteous Job knew that his hands were simply a channel through which God dispensed money and necessaries to those who did not possess the faculty of accumulating for themselves, and that those who have means should imitate his example. Job did not wait to be told where the poor were, but he searched for them. Does not God, then, give means to some that they may bless others? “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven and also to eight, for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth.” Ecclesiastes 11:1-3. If the clouds never emptied themselves, what then? God forms them by causing the sun to drink up the water from the ocean, the lakes, etc., which rises and floats as clouds to regions requiring rain. If now the clouds should selfishly withhold the water for fear of needing it personally, or of coming to want, what would be the result? If now the Lord places in our hands more than we need, is it not that we may dispense to others who lack? Let every S. D. Adventist make as much money as possible, honorably and honestly, but hold every additional penny above that which is necessary for personal wants, subject to God’s call. If every one acted in this spirit, the cause of God would go forward with a power never yet witnessed. ARSH July 9, 1889, page 433.6

Now, if God uses the faculty of some to accumulate means for distribution to others, would it not be foolish for him to dry up the channels, and let the talents of his servants lie idle at the expense of others? It is not sin to make money, but it is sin to put our trust in it, and to accumulate for our own personal comfort and aggrandizement, instead of casting our bread upon the waters, that we may find it after many days. “But,” says one, “I must lay up something for my children.” It is far better, brethren, to teach them to make a living for themselves, and not to rely upon the money you may leave to them. It is better that your child should have less money from you, and be taught to make a man of himself, than inherit a competence, which, perhaps, would make a fool of him. “Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all. Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.... Yes, I hated all my labor which I had taken under the sun, because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me, and who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labor wherein I have labored, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:13-19. To leave a child a competence really causes him to slight the faculties with which God endowed him, and which God intends shall be used to his honor and glory. Is it not, then, better for a man to distribute personally the surplus means which God permits him to acquire, in a manner that will be pleasing and acceptable to the Lord, than to leave it to another who may in time become a fool and dissipate it? And even if the recipient does keep the amount intact, the almost universal reule is that wealth never goes beyond the fourth generation. Is it not the wisest course, then, to teach the children to become independent of all such chances? Such a course would leave one free to use the surplus means as God calls for it, and all danger of misapplication after death, by chicanery of lawyers or heirs, would be avoided. The Bible teaches the necessity of distribution while living, not the leaving to others to do this after our death. ARSH July 9, 1889, page 433.7

As I before remarked, there is no wrong in having money, but much depends upon the use we make of it. “And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God. And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:23, 24. Those who have wealth, and trust in it, and rejoice because their hands have gotten it, and can sit down and take their ease, to them it is said: “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:20, 21. Let God be above it all, else we deny him, and have another god. “Many,” Paul says, “walk, of whom I have told you often, and not tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.” Philippians 3:18, 19. These make appetite their god. Why are they enemies of the cross of Christ? Jesus said, Whosoever will be my disciple, “let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” We cannot do either of the last two of these commands without doing what goes before it: first, deny self; next, take up our cross; and, lastly, follow the Lord. Those who are governed by their appetite are enemies to the cross of Christ, because their desires are paramount, and they cannot deny themselves. These have other gods before the Lord. ARSH July 9, 1889, page 434.1

Alcohol, tobacco, tea, opium, all are gods; and those who allow any of these things to gain the mastery of them are not Christians, because they do not deny themselves, and do not take up their cross, and therefore cannot follow the Saviour. All these evil habits separate from Christ. All such are enemies to the cross of Christ. Paul says, “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” Romans 7:21, 23. And again, “I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27. Conybeare and Howson say that literally the meaning is, “I keep under my body, beating it black and blue,” the idea being that such a course would cause mortification of the carnal nature, and the old man (sin) would thus die. If our bodies rule, appetite and passion control us; we cannot sense the law; but if the body is kept under, then the mind can reach out and serve God. Why is it that men cannot overcome their tobacco and other evil habits?—Because they cannot will strong enough to do so. The will is not strong enough to conquer the body. What is to be done then?—Why, let them have their wills bound to the will of Christ, and then he will weaken the carnal nature, and give the mind power to resist the encroachments of habit. ARSH July 9, 1889, page 434.2

Jesus wants our minds to rule so that we can serve the law of God. It is a pitiful truth that parents call children into the world weakened by their own indulgences, so that from the first the will is powerless against the appetites and the temptations to evil habits. Nothing can lift these above themselves, other than the power of Jesus. The mind must be in subjection to nothing but God. If subjugated by carnal things, man is serving self and not God. ARSH July 9, 1889, page 434.3

“For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” Ephesians 5:5. This is the pivot around which all other forms of idolatry turn—covetousness. A covetous man is one who trusts in riches and rejoices in the works of his own hands. He is an idolater. “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth, fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” Colossians 3:5. ARSH July 9, 1889, page 434.4

But there is a root beyond covetousness which must be destroyed. Paul tells Timothy this: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous,” etc. 2 Timothy 3:1, 2. What results from men being lovers of their own selves?—Covetousness; and then all else follows. Selfishness, then, is the root of all. Paul calls selfish, covetous people enemies to the cross of Christ, because they want to serve themselves. Therefore it is that when the Saviour points out the way to God, he strikes at the root of the enmity against God—selfishness. “Let him deny himself.” What was it brought sin into the world?—Satan became exalted with pride, love of himself. If, then, selfishness is the root, and covetousness is idolatry, we are doing one of two things—either serving ourselves or serving God. Which shall it be? let us compare the two masters? “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Mark 7:21-23, with which compare Romans 3:10-18. Now, as a contrast, let us read the character of God: “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Exodus 34:6, 7. Can we hesitate? Shall we love God, or ourselves? Is he not purer, more righteous, better, more perfect in every element of goodness, purity, and truth? “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” ARSH July 9, 1889, page 434.5