Date: April 20, 1948, 6:30 a.m.Place: Hardoon Road, Shanghai
Today there are only two ways to serve. Either one serves God, or he serves mammon. Of all the Christians in the whole world, perhaps eighty percent serve mammon. Of the remaining twenty percent, perhaps eighteen percent serve both mammon and God. It is difficult to find a few persons who will serve God only. In the past we never mentioned the matter of mammon. On the one hand, it was because we were not faithful. On the other hand, it was because mammon is a difficult subject to talk about. Mammon itself is unrighteous. A Christian should not only consider it wrong to make money by unrighteous means, but should realize that making money itself is improper. It is not a matter of much money or little money. God's Word says that we cannot serve God even by making money by righteous means. If a person has not settled this matter, he has not settled the most basic issue. God made all things from one, and money unifies all things into one. God created all things, and money can procure all things. Any thought of making money is a sign of serving mammon. Rice costs three million dollars a basket. If we try to make three million dollars to buy the rice, we are serving mammon. Where are we going to make our money? Will we not feel ashamed to make money from our brothers? Can we make money from the unbelievers?
For example, if the president of a country were to make money from a rickshaw coolie, would it not be very unbecoming for him to do such a thing? We are more noble than any president in the world. The worldly presidents are elected, but we are born kings. I wish that we could give away all our things. This is more proper and becoming.
All proper occupations extract riches from nature itself; they do not extract riches from others' pockets. For example, if there are two billion people on the earth and everyone has a dollar in his pocket, the total wealth of the world would be two billion dollars. If I try to make money, I have to cause the money in my pocket to increase. In order for the money in my pocket to increase, the money in the pockets of others has to decrease. How can a Christian put others' money into his own pocket? Is it becoming for a child of God to do this? Any kind of money-making is a reduction of others' wealth and an increase in one's own wealth. What we have to do is to increase the natural wealth on this earth. Why do we have to increase our own wealth at the expense of others' wealth? How can a Christian do such a shameful thing?
All the occupations in the Bible derive their riches from nature. The fishermen derive their wealth from the sea. The farmers derive their wealth from the land. These occupations increase one's own wealth without decreasing others' wealth. It is all right for us to increase our own wealth, but not at the expense of others' wealth. The increase of the herd of Abraham and Isaac was a blessing from God (Gen. 24:35; 26:12). But the increase of the herd of Jacob came from Laban (30:37-43). The increase in the herd of Abraham and Isaac was right, but the increase in the herd of Jacob was wrong, because in making the increase, he did injustice to Laban. Today there are many people like Jacob. If this problem is not solved, we cannot serve God in a proper way. As a minimum requirement, we cannot engage ourselves in money-making jobs. We have to reject any work that is purely commercial in its nature.
Ezekiel 28 speaks of the king of Tyre, who typifies Satan. He fell because of the multitude of his merchandise. Merchandising is a purely commercial activity. Ezekiel 28 is the record of the first commerce, whereas Revelation 18 is the record of the final commerce. Ezekiel 28 is the beginning of world commerce, whereas Revelation 18 is the consummation of world commerce. Revelation 18:11 speaks of "the merchants of the earth.'' "Merchants'' refers to great entrepreneurs. Antichrist will use Babylon to carry out his commercial activities. Pure commerce is not just a matter of money, nor is it a matter of gold or silver. Rather, it is a question of where the money is coming from. Today we have to pay attention to how money comes in. It is all right for me to increase my wealth, but I cannot decrease society's wealth. For example, to turn iron into steel is to contribute something to society, and such kinds of work are proper.
Today our thoughts have to be controlled by God. Those who are for money see nothing but money. They do not see how many fishes have been added; they only see how many dollars have come in. Pure commerce is too great a temptation for man. This is why we have to make a complete change in many things in the days ahead.
The Jews were originally farmers, tillers, shepherds, and laborers. But after they became degraded and were scattered into the nations, they became the most numerous and powerful merchants on earth. In the Old Testament God allotted the lands to the Israelites and charged every one of them to work on their own land. The Jews learned the lesson through this, and they did not want to work for others or to have others work for them. They preferred to manage their own business.
This is a serious hurdle, and one that is difficult to overcome. We have to ask God to turn our thoughts around. It is wrong to make money. Somehow, we have to be delivered from money.
Luke 16 speaks of the unrighteous steward and the unrighteous money. There the Lord commended the unrighteous steward for his wisdom. He used his master's money to make friends. There is a difference between the parable itself and the teaching that comes after it. The parable goes from verse 1 to verse 7, whereas the teaching begins with verse 8, which says, "The sons of this age are more prudent in their dealings with their own generation than the sons of light.'' The unrighteous steward changed the bill of one hundred measures of oil to fifty and the bill of one hundred measures of wheat to eighty. This is unrighteousness in procedure. Surely it is wrong. But after this, the Lord teaches us to bring people into the eternal tabernacles with the mammon of unrighteousness. Here we have the money itself as being unrighteous. Not only is the procedure unrighteous, but money itself is unrighteous. The parable says that the procedure is unrighteous, but the teaching says that money is unrighteous. Money itself is unrighteous in nature and substance. The parable does not say that wheat is unrighteous or that oil is unrighteous. Instead, it says that the person is unrighteous; he is an unrighteous steward. The teaching says that even money itself is unrighteous. Some people think that money is good because the unrighteous money can give us friends, cause others to be saved, and send people to the heavenly eternal tabernacles. But we have to realize that before God the nature and substance of money is unrighteous. Today we need to repent for our attitude toward money. Money stands in opposition to God. We cannot allow one thing that is in opposition to God to exist. Either we serve God or we serve mammon. Mammon demands man's worship just as God demands our worship. Once this matter is settled, our service to God becomes simple.
During these years, concerning money, the co-workers can boast that they have not been tied down with jobs for a living. Although the other brothers and sisters have more occasions to be exposed to money, they have to remember that they are serving God just as the co-workers are. We do not expect anyone among us to be a steward for his whole life and yet find no one to receive him into the eternal tabernacles.
When the Israelites left Egypt, they were supposed to take as much gold as possible with them (Exo. 12:35-36). If the money that we have comes from righteous means, we can give as much as we want. But if it is gained through unrighteous means, we have to return it. Some people will never let go of the money in their hands. From now on we have to maintain our Christian standing. We should have the sense that we can rise above others' heads in the matter of money. Others consider money as their life, but we do not. Money that we gain through righteous means can be kept, but money that we gain through unrighteous means should be returned.
With some kinds of money, it is all right to make it as a businessman, but not all right to make it as a friend. These are things that we can have no part in. In short, we can only deal with this matter by taking care of the principles; we cannot deal with it in detail. It is wrong to buy with a view to speculate. But if a man moves some goods from one place to another, it is a work of labor, and there is nothing wrong with it. However, if there is the need for bribery in the process of doing this, we are again faced with temptation. In choosing our occupations we should take the broadest possible way, and we should avoid dangerous bridges as much as possible, because with these bridges there is always the danger of falling, and the fall can be quite serious. Always remember that the mentality of a businessman is on making money. This mentality does not revolve around need, but around money. It is not a question of righteousness or unrighteousness, but a question of our occupation.
Weigh Kwang-hsi: Is an occupation with the insurance business all right? (Everyone smiled, but there was no answer.)
Watchman Nee: Today we should walk on the safe side as far as our occupations are concerned. It is not worthwhile for us to stumble because of our occupations. If I am looking for a place to live, I will never settle at the border next to Siberia. It is foolish to do that, because I would be the first one to be shot if someone came across the border. The wise way is to settle far away from the border.
If we want to serve God, we cannot remain at the border. We can answer questions like Brother Weigh's a thousand times, and the problem will still not be solved. The safe way is to move a little farther away from the border. The main thing is that our occupations should not involve a mere increase in dollars; there should be an increase in the value of goods. Any work that is of a service nature is always more noble than work that is purely commercial in nature. A Christian should maintain a high standard in the occupation he chooses. We have to study the noblest way for money to be earned. There is a difference between running a woodcraft store and being a carpenter. A carpenter improves on something from nature, whereas a store owner merely sells wooden wares. The latter is commercial in nature. It is always wise to stand on the safe side as far as our occupations are concerned.
Perhaps Paul did not have the time to sell tents himself. Perhaps Mark sold them for him. If that was the case, Mark would have been acting as an agent. This kind of business can still be considered permissible. If I go into some kind of manufacturing business with three or five brothers, and one of us works as the sales agent, this is different from pure buying and selling. Hence, we see the need of coordination here.
As for those occupations that contain elements of danger or temptations, we have to give them up. Some resignations involve time and cannot be completed right away. At any rate, it is wrong to take money from others' pockets. We have to settle the matter of occupation by taking care of the basic problem. All occupations should add to the value of goods. The world should see something added to it through my occupation. Works of a commercial nature increase money, but do not increase goods. If there is only an increase in wealth without an increase in goods, it is wrong. It is unjustified for us to take from society without giving back to society.
I think I have to say a few words to the brothers who are holding jobs. Among those with whom I have been having fellowship, the matter I am about to share has been quite clear. My personal affairs should also be handed over to the brothers and sisters and be left to their arrangement. It is a long story, and there is no need for me to go into the details of it. But there are certain things that I need to say. At the beginning I told the brothers that if one day I, Watchman Nee, had to go into business, it would be to the shame of all the brothers who are in business. When the co-workers at times tried to go into business together, I always did my best to stop them. As a result, I began to hear words behind my back, saying that I would only allow myself to go into business, but would not allow others to do the same. At that time I said to others, "It is enough that I have gone into it already. There is no need for all of you to do the same.'' Later, I allowed three other co-workers to be involved with it.
From 1931 to 1937 the number of workers among us increased. At that time many said that they lived by faith. However, they engaged themselves in many "methods'' and "schemes.'' This disgusted me. I told two or three of the so-called co-workers, who are no longer with us, that they are "living by faith,'' but that I am not living by that kind of faith. What I once said to the brothers in business, the co-workers, and the ones who were so-called living by faith, I say again today; I will not change what I have said. I begged these three groups of people not to put up their signboard of living by faith. I was hoping that there could be a fourth kind of people, those who can arrange work for the brothers and sisters, and who can help some brothers to live with a peaceful conscience. Although I dared not hope to give them much money, at least I hoped that I could help them get by in their living and to live with a peaceful conscience.
At the beginning ninety-eight percent of the pharmaceutical enterprise was in my hand, or in the hands of those who had put their trust in me. Later, this became eighty percent. After some time I was left with only sixty-five percent. After the war some requested to withdraw, and my part increased again to become eighty percent.
I went into the business at the beginning with one hope. My situation today is like a widow with a few children, who hopes to raise them up, but who fails. Eventually the widow remarries, and after a while the children are all gone. By that time she cannot tell why she had remarried in the first place. My hope today is the same as it was then. In between, however, something happened, and I cannot tell you why there was a "remarriage.''
For over a year I have not involved myself in many things. When Brother Lee came to Foochow, the fellowship was recovered. But I must say again: My feeling today is the same as it was in 1939. Thank the Lord that in these days Brother Witness has the same feelings that I do. We feel that there are many books we need to write and many hymns we need to put out. We hope to prepare a new translation of the New Testament. Yet these things are left undone. Some young co-workers wanted me to resume some responsibilities, but time does not allow me to do the same things any longer. If I could return to 1939, it might be possible to have another beginning.
Because of the four turmoils and the four incidents of unfaithfulness, money that would have been enough to purchase two or three meeting halls has slipped out of our hands. Last year, when money was in our hands, it was worth over four hundred thousand dollars. Now, other than the seventy-three thousand dollars that we owe to others, there is still over two hundred thousand dollars in our hands. The money I have in my hands is trust funds; it is what others have entrusted to me. I want to tell you that I am not running away from anything. From now on this trust fund will be entirely in your hands. Twenty or thirty percent of the shares is in my hands...I cannot do it now, and perhaps you will not allow me to do it now either....What we personally feel in these days is a small thing. Nevertheless, my personal feeling is that, as I have been telling you these days, there must be some to come forward to offer.
Concerning the brothers who are in business, forgive me for saying a few uncomplimentary words: You have taken too much upon yourselves. It seems as if somebody is telling me something. Actually, no one is telling me anything....One sister, Amy Carmichael, who went to India to preach the gospel, was much helped financially by some others....Everyone is needed.
I have to say a few words for my co-workers. I know how Brother Lee spent his days in Chefoo. Some co-workers' children could not go to school and were starving at home. Among us we have five widows who are without any care. Even today Brother Tseng Li-san's child is still unable to graduate from elementary school. Today, among us, the number of widows left behind by former co-workers is not five, but twenty. While the husbands of these sisters were alive, they gave up their positions and their jobs. After they died, they were all forgotten. My co-workers, I cannot say that I am good. I admit that I have my shortcomings. We come short in the work, in offering, and in the Lord's grace. But I ask myself, "Why is it that among my co-workers, other than Brother Li-san who was killed by the Communists, ninety percent have died of tuberculosis?'' On the one hand, I have to say that we have not been responsible enough. On the other hand, I thought that it was I who persuaded them to leave their jobs. You may say that you trust in God and that God can take care of them. But when I saw them one by one passing away and dying, I was angry. I may have done many wrong things, but God knows why I have done them....[Editor's note: At this point, Brother Nee wept, and everyone wept bitterly.] You may say that I have not been frugal enough. But you do not know my position. If this matter is not settled, many other things cannot be settled.
I do not count on receiving my reward before God. I admit that I had my mistakes. I looked for a way. I told others that CBC [the pharmaceutical enterprise] is a business corporation. I was hoping that I could render some help to those brothers and sisters in need. But I have no liberty in this matter. There should not have been the need for me to say all these things. But since you have handed yourselves over, I also should hand myself over.
We spent fifty thousand dollars on Kuling, another forty thousand dollars on Foochow. For the purchase of the land in Shanghai, we spent four hundred seventy thousand dollars. We have to give everything we have for the gospel. If possible, in the future, please do not force me to do the same thing as I have done. If my co-workers have to do the same thing again, the responsibility falls on the shoulders of you brothers who are in business.
For many years, God's blessings have been among us; they have never left us. God's responsibility is still on our shoulders. We are not "watching the sky from the well,'' looking at the outside from our small circles. We do believe that God's blessing has not left us. Our responsibility on earth is not finished yet. I do not know how many burdens there are on our shoulders. Brothers, the population of our country occupies one-fourth of the population of the whole world. The most unreached continent in the whole world is Asia, and the most unreached land in Asia is China. The gospel is like a relay race. The Western brothers have sent the gospel to China. But there was no blessing, because there was no outreach from China. This is not God's principle. At least the gospel has to spread throughout the whole of China. Today we can stand on a lofty ground and say that God can do everything. But who will meet the need? If we are not faithful, God will cause a reaction. If we are not faithful this time, the blessing will come again. But when it does, there will be confusion. It is like a farmer directing water to his field; there must be the proper water ducts. Without the ducts and the ditches, the water will flow all over. If we are more faithful before the Lord and dig a deeper channel, the water will flow better. God has put us in this place; it is a blessed place. Here we need two groups of people. One is the group that offer their time and bodies for the work of the gospel. The other is the group that offer their money for the gospel.
My words are for both groups of people. I speak to myself, and I speak to the brothers and sisters. In 1943 I went through a severe trial. For a few days I was asking the Lord why my way was so difficult. Although I cannot say that there was a time when I had nothing to put on my stove, I did fall ill of tuberculosis. It was hard financially. It was hard circumstantially. I was tired in my body, and the Japanese were threatening me. At that time God provided for me sixteen hundred U.S. dollars through a sister. But later, when I tried to escape, not one dollar was with me. I admit that I felt frustrated. For some time I was financially at the end of the rope. I could not hold on any longer. I almost collapsed. I told the Lord that I would never admit that my way was wrong. If I were to die that way, let it be so. Yet I would never admit that my way was wrong.
One day a co-worker came to see me, and he asked, "Should I go back to my job?'' I was not weeping outside, but I was weeping inside. I said, "Between the two things, you have to consider what is God's will; you have to consider if God has called you to be full-time and if He has given you the commission.'' When I said that, I was suppressing God's feeling within me. I saw the difficult circumstances, and I could not bring myself to say what I should have said. That was why I told him to go back to his job.
I do not say that I have done a good work. In Chefoo many people have asked me to help to train some young ones. I was not so strict with them. If I had been stricter, I would have said, "The way is here before you. It is up to you to take it or not to take it.'' Everything will have its final reckoning before the Lord....We have to admit that God's blessing is among us, and it has exceeded the financial limitations that we have put on Him.
From last year until today, we have been trying to buy some land. Because our requirements are so high, and the supply has not come up to the need, what we have received up until today, including what Brother Nee has come up with, is only enough to buy half of the proposed land. If we had three to four hundred gold bars in our hands, the new meeting hall would have been finished nine months ago. This matter is a big burden upon us. Now brothers everywhere have handed themselves over. It may seem that if we go on this way, we will stir up trouble. But even if we are to stir up trouble, and even if we are to die for it, we have to strive on. In the summer over one hundred brothers and sisters will have to be trained in Foochow. Every one of them needs three million dollars for support. How much money do we need here!
My co-workers, I admit that the way ahead is not easy. I admit that there will be sufferings. You brothers who are holding jobs should ask the Lord and inquire of Him. How should these problems be solved?
I beg that all of you would take up the things that are in my hands. For you to go into business, there is no shame. But for me to go into business, there is the shame. But I will still say that the responsibility today is on your shoulders.
