The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-16
ROCKEFELLER TALKS TO
 BIBLE CLASS ON RICHES

sacrifice he is called upon to make in order to follow Christ more completely.
 Member of the Class-That command of Christ which directed that a rich man should give away all his property, I do not think 1t should be taken too literally If a certain portion of a rich mans in- come could be set aside I think he will be doing his duty.
 MT. Rockefeller-Do you not think that the probable reason for Christ saying that was not that the young man was not de- ing well with his money. but that he loved his possessions more than he loved Christ, and Christ saw that there was no way to rid himself of his love of his treas ures but to direct the young man to sur render all and rid himself completely of all that he possessed? The young man ap- pears to have been an amiable young man and to have given money to the poor and to have been exceedingly charitable, but nevertheless he was so wrapped up in his possessions that Christ told him to go and sell them and give to the poor and to follow Him.
 There are pleasures, my friends, legiti- mate pleasures, that can be given up for the service of Inrist, or it is possible that we may curtail our business pursuits in order to devote more time to practical Christianity. No man believes in business more that do, and I am a firm believer that man can serve God In his office as well as elsewhere.
 Christ, however, demands that we give lff cnr hi fraer t., IIt.
 ourselves upon Christ and follow Him. I do not think it would be a good thing to abandon our pursuits and follow Christ | literally, because conditions are different, But we should give up those things that stand between us and Christ Let us make it a point this week to search our own hearts and eliminate those things | which are obstacles to a more close fol- lowing of Christ.
 l Member of the Class-Could we not serve Christ better and be a more faith full follower of His if Sunday labor and occupations were eliminated? There are many men who labor not alone six days in the week, but on Sunday also.
 MT. Rockefeller-That is a relative ques- tion and one which every man must de- | that question, however, is that works of necessity and works of charity should be performed on Sunday as well as on other days of the week. For instance, the janitor of this edifice has to work on i Sunday and keep his fires burning or l there would be no heat, and without heat it would not be possible to hold services. My friends, we must take Christ's say ings in a broad rather than in a strictly literal sense. Christ said to the dis | ciples, Leave your nets and follow Me" Those nets were possessions of value to the disciples. but they hesitated not moment. and they dropped their pets, and the lesson to be derived from that is obedience to thes commands of Christ. That is a pretty hard thing for you and me to do to give unquestioned obedience to Christ.
 A gentleman came down to my office the other day and told me of his misfor- tunes. Among other things he had lost several of the immediate members of his family, who had died in quick succession, | and he had met with other troubles and |, disasters. This was most exemplary man, charitable and good Christian, and he said to me- 'I cannot understand | Gods motives" I told him that l could understand them; that God did it for the | best, and that we cannot expect to under stand the underlying motive Just as when I was child and my mother would say to me, "You must not do this,' or ''You must not do that" l would say 10 her, "Why?" and she would reply, ou do not understand" But her motive was assuredly for the best and for my wei fare Well, you do not understand. That Is the precise situation taken by | God with regard to us. We do not under 1 stand, but we must give Him implicit confidence, even if we cannot understand 1 His motives.
 So when we think of those disciples in l their early relation with Christ let us give up all and follow Him. Let us deter mine what stands between Him and fol- l lowing Christ and give 1t up. Trust Tn God, knowing that some day we shall understand, and that today and tomorrow our own duty is to obey