better than life itself. by Charles
Simeon. The kingdom of heaven is like
a merchant seeking fine pearls. Who, when he had found one pearl
of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it?
Matthew chapter 13 verses 45 to 46. Worldliness is the besetting
sin of most professing Christians. It is certain that very many
of them are as eager in the pursuit of wealth as the heathen. This
accounts for the little influence of the word of God upon them.
The seed is good, but the soil is bad. And the noxious weeds
of worldliness, by their speedy and incessant growth, keep down
the feebler plants of piety in the soul. The cares of this world,
and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust for other things,
choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. Mark chapter 4 verse
19. But please note that it is not
the overt act of covetousness or creature dependence that is
condemned, but the inward disposition of the mind and heart. The supreme
delight of mind that arises from the possession of wealth, is
itself a denial of the sufficiency of Christ to be our desired portion
and treasure. Oh, brethren, enter into your
own bosoms and judge yourselves in relation to this matter. Inquire
whether Christ has such a full possession of your hearts, as
to render all earthly things relatively vain, empty, and worthless,
in your estimation? If not, then how can you call
Christ your desired portion, or imagine that you have formed
a proper estimate of the immeasurable blessings of salvation? Know
assuredly, that if you have proper views of Christ, you will regard
him as your pearl of great price. Can you sincerely say from your
inmost soul, whom have I in heaven but you? An earth has nothing
I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm chapter 73 verses 25 to 26. A true profession of Christ
does not consist in a mere ascent to some particular truths of
scripture, but in a practical and experimental sense of his
love to us, overpowering all inferior desires. To love the
Lord Jesus, to cleave to Him with full purpose of heart, to
count Him as all our salvation and all our desire, this is what
He requires. This is also what our blessed
Savior deserves from each of His redeemed people. If we do
not despise worldly trifles, when standing in competition
with his will, his presence, and his glory, then he shall
regard us as denying him, and we must expect to be denied by
him in the judgment day. Would a man who had scraped together
a great heap of dust rejoice because he had gathered so much
dust? Surely not. In the same way,
does not the foolish satisfaction which a man feels from the attainment
of riches show that he has formed an erroneous estimate of their
value? God has called himself the fountain
of living waters and has pronounced all creatures to be broken cisterns
that will hold no water. Just so, an undue regard to wealth
denies that God is the ultimate source of happiness, and that
He is all-sufficient for our real happiness. See to it then,
brethren, that it is not thus with you. If you are disposed
to ask, Who will show me any good? Then learn immediately
to add, Lord, lift up the light of your countenance upon me,
and that shall fill my heart with greater joy than any amount
of wealth could ever do. For as, on the one hand, a man's
life does not consist in the abundance of the things that
he possesses, so, on the other hand, in God's favour is life,
and his loving-kindness is better than life itself.