By Mr D. P. Rowland, President of the Society

One of the characteristics that would clearly define most, if not all, of those with whom we have Christian association is that, compared with many throughout the world who have so very little, we all have so very much! We are richly blessed in many ways. All of this is, of course, in the wondrous and kind providence of Almighty God, the One in whom we all live, move, and have our being (Acts 17.28). But what is it that from a Scriptural perspective will accurately mark out and correctly define our true wealth and blessedness? Clearly, the answer is not to be found in ourselves, in our natural possessions, in the influence we may have over others, or in any specific gifts, or particular abilities we may have. 

Wealth and blessedness found

Rather, our true wealth and blessedness is to be found in our being under the influence, teaching, and power of the one Book that is of Divine Origin, that is full of Divine Content, and that is wholly of Divine Authority. All who are privileged to have possession of this Sacred Volume, the Holy Bible, and who have been brought to discern (by the mighty power of the Spirit of God) its Divine unction, power, and authority, know something of its immense value. To them it is not only the one Book that is of far greater value ‘than much fine gold’ (Psalm 19.10), it is the Book of Books, the Book of their King, their Lord, their Master, their Redeemer, their Saviour, their Guide, their Comforter, and their Heavenly Friend.

The Bible is the Volume of Divine Truth in the midst of all the evil and error of this world. It is the Volume of Divine Light in the midst of the gross darkness that is so prevalent throughout the world. It is the Volume of Divine Wisdom given by Almighty God to instruct foolish man in the fear of the Lord. Where would you and I and our fellow church members be without this Body of Divinity: without the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, without the saving work of God the Holy Spirit, and without each of the other gracious activities and influences that, under the authority and command of the Divine Master, accompany the Holy Scriptures wherever they go?

It is these Divine, these spiritual, these heavenly, blessings that flow alone from the Holy Bible that make the true difference between us and others. These are true and substantial riches; they are blessings that identify us as those who are truly rich—rich toward God (Luke 12.21), rich for time and rich for eternity, rich because we have the Word of God and the treasures of Divine goodness which are contained in, and revealed from, that blessed Volume.

The greatest treasure

Compared to everything else that we may possess here in this world that is of a tangible nature, the Bible is the greatest treasure that we or any of our fellow men could ever possess. In God’s wondrous grace, you and I have this inestimable gift, the ‘Word of God’, this revelation of the divine majesty of Almighty God, and of His grace and mercy in Christ to rebellious man. Living under the privileges and blessings that flow from this divine gift, which itself ‘is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart’ (Hebrews 4.12) and ‘able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus’ (2 Timothy 3.15), how wonderfully great and gloriously rich we are!

The one thing needful 

But while we are so rich, there are others, many others, throughout the world who are (by this Scriptural judgment) exceedingly poor. Whether they are billionaires who live in Mayfair in England or other fashionable parts of other countries, or are the destitute who live in the backstreets of the poorest cities of the world, all who do not share the same spiritual privileges and blessings that accompany the possession and the prayerful and diligent use of the Word of God, are poor: woefully poor for time and eternity.

It is true that many may enjoy a variety of outward and temporal privileges, blessings, and benefits. Some, indeed, may have their great worldly riches, their elevated social status, their strengths, and their skills, but there is something they have not got, something they are lacking that is so very necessary and so important; they lack that one thing which is needful (Luke 10.42)! They are thus desperately poor: ‘For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?’ (Mark 8.36).

How desperately sad and extremely solemn is their state! They are careless and indifferent, wedded to their sins, idolaters who wickedly defy the God who gave them being and before whose judgment seat they will each soon be summonsed (cf. Hebrews 9.27). Truly, they are ‘lost’, and on the broad way that leads to destruction, to eternal damnation, and to endless misery. And yet—how terribly solemn—they know it not! They are without spiritual light or life, ‘dead in trespasses and sins’ (Ephesians 2.1), ‘without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world’ (Ephesians 2.12) Such, sadly, is the solemn state of so many in the world around us. They are without a Bible to point them to Christ. 

The words of life

How instructive are the words of the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul when he wrote to the church at Corinth, ‘And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God’ (1 Corinthians 6.11). A change had been wrought in these men and women who now eagerly gathered around the Word of God to hear the words of life. They who had been dead were now alive. Those who were previously blind now see. There had been a new creation.

What was the cause under God of this remarkable change? The Word of God had come to Corinth, and they had been brought under its divine influence! And is not this the experience of many of who associate with the Society? Is this not why you are so very keen that the Word of God should be distributed far and wide throughout all the nations of the world? Is it not because you understand a little of your own natural spiritual poverty, that you now desire (in thankfulness to God for the abundant mercies you have received through His blessing on your prayerful study of the Bible) that the Holy Scriptures might go forth to the many millions throughout the world who are yet also so desperately poor, not having the Word of God? Do you not now also want to join with us as fellow labourers, following in your mind and heart the many copies of the Holy Scriptures the Society sends out ‘among all nations’ each day, praying that the Name of God might be glorified thereby and that others also may through the Word of Truth receive the great spiritual benefit of a full and free salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ, of which you by grace have been made a partaker?

How wonderful it is to be reminded again and again of the spiritual fruitfulness of the work in which we are engaged! ‘For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it’ (Isaiah 55.10–11).

‘Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord’ (1 Corinthians 15.58).

Brethren, pray for us …

First published in Quarterly Record 614. Edited for online publication 13 December 2024.