Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-14
Epwopth League Discussion.
WHAT I WOULD DO WITH A
FORTUNE.
duke. 12,16-1s: 15.11-13: 1 Sam.
25.5-12.)
By Robert D. Burbank,

BY hoDert u. .burDank,
President Baltimore Conference Epworth League.
II I had a million dollars. I would
-? How many thousands OF times
this thought arises in our minds IN
connection with things we want either
to have or to do! Mostly these thoughts
are just idle wishes which We really
filled, yet a frank and serious answer
to this implied question is a pretty
sure index of ones character. for the
possession OF vast amount Of money
really means to most of US the power
of fulfilling our utmost desires. and
the disclosure Of these desires reveals
at once ones ideals. his principles. his
point of view and his attitude toward
God and man.
The passages OF Scripture referred to
under this topic furnish three examples
Of what a man does with fortune
and each of these illustrates a trait
that is characteristic of large class of
men of all times and conditions.
Jesus. warning His disciples against
covetousness, told this parable: The
ground Of a certain rich man brought
forth plentifully and he reasoned with
in himself saying: What shall DO.
because l have no room to bestoW my
frutts?" And he said. This will ! do:
will pull down my barns and build
greater; and there will I bestow all my
corn and my goods. And / will say to
my soul. Soul, thou hast much goods
laid up for many years: take thine ease:
eat. drink, be merry But God said
unto him, Thou fool, this night is thy
soul required of thee; and the things
which thou hast prepared. whose shall!
they be-" The utter foolishness of
covetousness Is thus laid bare, and the
wick elness of 1t is indicated in Christ $
remark For mans life consistent
not in the abundance of the things
which he DOSseSSeth"
The second passage, cited from Luke's
gospel, also contains parabfe-the IA
miliar story of the prodigal son. This
boy took his inheritance "a real for
tune) and spent it on the great white
way" of far city. His whole idea was
to have a good time" and 1t was not
until his fortune was gone and his
friends had deserted him that he real
lied the foolishness as well as the
Wickedness Of reckless se1f-indulgence.
The citation in Samuel gives the
story of Nabal. the rich sheep-owner.
who treated David's request for help
with such pride and arrogance when
David, hot1y pursued by Saufs army.
was in urgent need of the provisions
Nabal could have spared without miss
ing Nabal received the reward which
his arrogance deserved, too, for after
night of drunken revelry his heart
died within him and he became as .
stone"
Covetousness. self-indulgence and ar
rogant pride are the characteristics
shown in these examples of men with
fortunes, and their foolishness and
wickedness is readily admitted; yet. IL
other day, we will find these traits
more or less characteristic of most OF
them. No wonder the disciples ex-
claimed. How hardly shall rich man
enter the kingdom Of heaven"
True 1t is. thank God! that we do
n nd &Uh a
fortunes and know what to do with
them. and are doing what they know
or believe to be right. We speak light
ly in these days of a billion dollars,
already, individual billionaires. and yet
we can scarcely comprehend the vast
ness of such a fortune. But not only
do we find in these days striking indi-
vidual illustrations of Christians with
big fortunes, but we see in the prog
ress Of civilization and the advance of
democracy that all owners of property,
whether the fortune be big or little. are
realizing more and moro their respon-
sibility to God and man in their use
of their fortune: and though slowly,
yet surely, through the study of science
and ethics. as well as by the growth of
Christs kingdom on earth. we are ap-
preaching the only ultimate solution
of the whole problem of property own
ership. the plan revealed by Christ
Himself-stewardship
The important word of the topic is
the personal pronoun, for the entire
value of its discussion lies in it's appli-
cation to the Individual person. Would
be covetous? Would l spend it all
having a good time? Would l get so
puffed up with pride I would scorn my
neighbors and insult those who came
to me for help? Or would 1 retain the
consciousness that ] am but Gods
steward. and that 1 am responsible to
Him not only for the interest or 1.-THE
on he property He has Entrusted me
with. but also for it's proper use?
What 1 would do with a fortune"
implies that I have none: but this is
hardly correct. True it is that / pos
sess no property worth considering, but
yet God has given me a fortune OF Ell
ther one talent or two, or five or per-
haps ten talents. 1t may not be in ma
terial possessions at ALA mans life
consistent, not in the abundance OF the
things which he possesseth"-and
wealth is only blessing In SO far as it
gives power to serve: so my fortune
consists of my power to serve, Of every
possibility Of service that comes into
my life. The question. therefore, of
greatest Importance to me Is. What am
doing with my fortune? Am l just
steward?