The Dangers of Prosperity
There is another danger to which the wealthy are especially exposed, and here also is a field for the medical missionary. Multitudes who are prosperous in the world and who never stoop to the common forms of vice are yet brought to destruction through the love of riches. The cup most difficult to carry is not the cup that is empty but the cup that is full to the brim. It is this that needs to be most carefully balanced. Affliction and adversity bring disappointment and sorrow, but it is prosperity that is most dangerous to spiritual life.
MHH 113.5
Those who are suffering reverses are represented by the bush that Moses saw in the desert, which, though burning, was not consumed. The Angel of the Lord was in the midst of the bush. So in deprivation and affliction the brightness of the presence of the Unseen is with us to comfort and sustain. Often prayer is solicited for those who are suffering from illness or adversity, but our prayers are most needed by the people entrusted with prosperity and influence.
MHH 114.1
In the valley of humiliation, where souls feel their need and depend on God to guide their steps, there is comparative safety. But people who stand, as it were, on a lofty pinnacle, and who, because of their position, are supposed to possess great wisdom—these are in greatest peril. Unless they make God their dependence, they will surely fall.
MHH 114.2
The Bible condemns no one for being rich if the riches have been acquired honestly. Not money, but the love of money, is the root of all evil. It is God who gives people power to get wealth, and in the hands of one who acts as God’s steward, using the means unselfishly, wealth is a blessing, both to its possessor and to the world. But many, absorbed in their interest in worldly treasures, become insensible to the claims of God and the needs of others. They regard their wealth as a means of glorifying themselves. They add house to house, and land to land; they fill their homes with luxuries, while all about them are human beings in misery and crime, in disease and death. Those who thus give their lives to self-serving are developing in themselves not the attributes of God but the attributes of the wicked one.
MHH 114.3
These people need the gospel. They need to have their eyes turned from the vanity of material things to behold the preciousness of the enduring riches. They need to learn the joy of giving, the blessedness of being co-workers with God.
MHH 114.4
The Lord bids us, “Command those who are rich in this present age” not to trust “in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19.
MHH 114.5
It is not by casual, accidental touch that wealthy, world-loving, world-worshiping people will be drawn to Christ. Often these are the most difficult to get access to. Personal effort must be put forth for them by men and women imbued with the missionary spirit, those who will not fail or be discouraged.
MHH 114.6
2715
MHH
The Ministry of Health and Healing
[{"para_id":"2715.22","title":"Foreword","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0003_eng_m_foreword_2715_22.mp3#duration=247&size=2108529"},{"para_id":"2715.36","title":"Chapter 1\u2014Jesus, Our Example","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0005_eng_m_chapter_1_jesus_our_example_2715_39.mp3#duration=899&size=7331113"},{"para_id":"2715.81","title":"Chapter 2\u2014Days of Ministry","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0010_eng_m_chapter_2_days_of_ministry_2715_81.mp3#duration=1581&size=12783878"},{"para_id":"2715.158","title":"Chapter 3\u2014With Nature and With God","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0014_eng_m_chapter_3_with_nature_and_with_god_2715_158.mp3#duration=545&size=4495806"},{"para_id":"2715.182","title":"Chapter 4\u2014The Touch of Faith","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0016_eng_m_chapter_4_the_touch_of_faith_2715_182.mp3#duration=1303&size=10561232"},{"para_id":"2715.248","title":"Chapter 5\u2014Healing of the Soul","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0020_eng_m_chapter_5_healing_of_the_soul_2715_248.mp3#duration=1752&size=14155566"},{"para_id":"2715.336","title":"Chapter 6\u2014Saved to Serve","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0026_eng_m_chapter_6_saved_to_serve_2715_336.mp3#duration=1157&size=9389773"},{"para_id":"2715.398","title":"Chapter 7\u2014The Co-working of the Divine and the Human","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0031_eng_m_chapter_7_the_co_working_of_the_divine_and_the_human_2715_401.mp3#duration=1362&size=11030675"},{"para_id":"2715.468","title":"Chapter 8\u2014The Physician an Educator","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0036_eng_m_chapter_8_the_physician_an_educator_2715_468.mp3#duration=1360&size=11015725"},{"para_id":"2715.534","title":"Chapter 9\u2014Teaching and Healing","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0043_eng_m_chapter_9_teaching_and_healing_2715_537.mp3#duration=2278&size=18363869"},{"para_id":"2715.649","title":"Chapter 10\u2014Helping the Tempted","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0051_eng_m_chapter_10_helping_the_tempted_2715_649.mp3#duration=957&size=7789672"},{"para_id":"2715.696","title":"Chapter 11\u2014Working for the Intemperate","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0054_eng_m_chapter_11_working_for_the_intemperate_2715_696.mp3#duration=1287&size=10430504"},{"para_id":"2715.758","title":"Chapter 12\u2014Help for the Unemployed and the Homeless","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0059_eng_m_chapter_12_help_for_the_unemployed_and_the_homeless_2715_758.mp3#duration=1813&size=14642543"},{"para_id":"2715.850","title":"Chapter 13\u2014The Helpless Poor","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0068_eng_m_chapter_13_the_helpless_poor_2715_850.mp3#duration=741&size=6065845"},{"para_id":"2715.896","title":"Chapter 14\u2014Ministry to the Rich","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0072_eng_m_chapter_14_ministry_to_the_rich_2715_896.mp3#duration=768&size=6277677"},{"para_id":"2715.934","title":"Chapter 15\u2014In the Sickroom","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0076_eng_m_chapter_15_in_the_sickroom_2715_937.mp3#duration=424&size=3526538"},{"para_id":"2715.963","title":"Chapter 16\u2014Prayer for the Sick","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0082_eng_m_chapter_16_prayer_for_the_sick_2715_963.mp3#duration=886&size=7227172"},{"para_id":"2715.1005","title":"Chapter 17\u2014The Use of Remedies","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0087_eng_m_chapter_17_the_use_of_remedies_2715_1005.mp3#duration=591&size=4865015"},{"para_id":"2715.1036","title":"Chapter 18\u2014Mind Cure","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0091_eng_m_chapter_18_mind_cure_2715_1036.mp3#duration=1856&size=14984838"},{"para_id":"2715.1146","title":"Chapter 19\u2014In Contact With Nature","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0099_eng_m_chapter_19_in_contact_with_nature_2715_1146.mp3#duration=626&size=5142436"},{"para_id":"2715.1185","title":"Chapter 20\u2014General Hygiene","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0103_eng_m_chapter_20_general_hygiene_2715_1188.mp3#duration=520&size=4296169"},{"para_id":"2715.1218","title":"Chapter 21\u2014Hygiene Among the Israelites","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0107_eng_m_chapter_21_hygiene_among_the_israelites_2715_1218.mp3#duration=822&size=6708836"},{"para_id":"2715.1268","title":"Chapter 22\u2014Dress","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0112_eng_m_chapter_22_dress_2715_1268.mp3#duration=722&size=5908324"},{"para_id":"2715.1307","title":"Chapter 23\u2014Diet and Health","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0116_eng_m_chapter_23_diet_and_health_2715_1307.mp3#duration=1322&size=10712959"},{"para_id":"2715.1372","title":"Chapter 24\u2014Flesh as Food","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0121_eng_m_chapter_24_flesh_as_food_2715_1372.mp3#duration=544&size=4490105"},{"para_id":"2715.1399","title":"Chapter 25\u2014Extremes in Diet","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0123_eng_m_chapter_25_extremes_in_diet_2715_1399.mp3#duration=510&size=4213679"},{"para_id":"2715.1427","title":"Chapter 26\u2014Stimulants and Narcotics","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0126_eng_m_chapter_26_stimulants_and_narcotics_2715_1427.mp3#duration=1014&size=8246601"},{"para_id":"2715.1483","title":"Chapter 27\u2014Evils of the Drug and Liquor Traffic","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0132_eng_m_chapter_27_evils_of_the_drug_and_liquor_traffic_2715_1483.mp3#duration=986&size=8020451"},{"para_id":"2715.1533","title":"Chapter 28\u2014Ministry of the Home","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0136_eng_m_chapter_28_ministry_of_the_home_2715_1536.mp3#duration=577&size=4752274"},{"para_id":"2715.1564","title":"Chapter 29\u2014Builders of the Home","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0139_eng_m_chapter_29_builders_of_the_home_2715_1564.mp3#duration=655&size=5378734"},{"para_id":"2715.1603","title":"Chapter 30\u2014Choice and Preparation of the Home","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0142_eng_m_chapter_30_choice_and_preparation_of_the_home_2715_1603.mp3#duration=596&size=4899930"},{"para_id":"2715.1634","title":"Chapter 31\u2014The Mother","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0146_eng_m_chapter_31_the_mother_2715_1634.mp3#duration=654&size=5366761"},{"para_id":"2715.1668","title":"Chapter 32\u2014The Child","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0152_eng_m_chapter_32_the_child_2715_1668.mp3#duration=821&size=6702599"},{"para_id":"2715.1713","title":"Chapter 33\u2014Home Influences","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0157_eng_m_chapter_33_home_influences_2715_1713.mp3#duration=571&size=4705978"},{"para_id":"2715.1745","title":"Chapter 34\u2014True Education a Missionary Training","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0160_eng_m_chapter_34_true_education_a_missionary_training_2715_1745.mp3#duration=1203&size=9760186"},{"para_id":"2715.1815","title":"Chapter 35\u2014A True Knowledge of God","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0165_eng_m_chapter_35_a_true_knowledge_of_god_2715_1818.mp3#duration=1707&size=13798200"},{"para_id":"2715.1933","title":"Chapter 36\u2014Danger in Speculative Knowledge","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0173_eng_m_chapter_36_danger_in_speculative_knowledge_2715_1933.mp3#duration=1236&size=10024693"},{"para_id":"2715.2012","title":"Chapter 37\u2014The False and the True in Education","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0178_eng_m_chapter_37_the_false_and_the_true_in_education_2715_2012.mp3#duration=1269&size=10287915"},{"para_id":"2715.2078","title":"Chapter 38\u2014The Importance of Seeking True Knowledge","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0185_eng_m_chapter_38_the_importance_of_seeking_true_knowledge_2715_2078.mp3#duration=723&size=5921887"},{"para_id":"2715.2122","title":"Chapter 39\u2014The Knowledge Received Through God\u2019s Word","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0191_eng_m_chapter_39_the_knowledge_received_through_god_s_word_2715_2122.mp3#duration=824&size=6729489"},{"para_id":"2715.2169","title":"Chapter 40\u2014Help in Daily Living","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0195_eng_m_chapter_40_help_in_daily_living_2715_2172.mp3#duration=1333&size=10800420"},{"para_id":"2715.2236","title":"Chapter 41\u2014In Contact With Others","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0202_eng_m_chapter_41_in_contact_with_others_2715_2236.mp3#duration=1474&size=11928229"},{"para_id":"2715.2308","title":"Chapter 42\u2014Development and Service","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0208_eng_m_chapter_42_development_and_service_2715_2308.mp3#duration=668&size=5482967"},{"para_id":"2715.2344","title":"Chapter 43\u2014A Higher Experience","mp3":"\/mp3\/2715\/0212_eng_m_chapter_43_a_higher_experience_2715_2344.mp3#duration=1267&size=10270130"}]