xiii. 17. _The Medes . . . shall not regard silver; and as
for gold, they shall not delight in it._
I. One of the most universal and powerful of all passions is the love
of money. Consider--1. How _wide-spread_ is this passion. The instant
men rise above utter barbarism, it manifests itself. Paradoxical as
it may sound, it is one of the first signs that civilisation has
begun. In every civilised land, and among all classes, it constantly
manifests itself.[1] It is one of the inspiring and moulding forces
that are always at work. 2. How _powerful_ it is in its operation! It
leads them to face appalling dangers. It persuades them to endure
distressing privations. It betrays them into the basest crimes. Up to
a certain point, it may be said to be a useful servant; it works to
promote our welfare, by overbalancing other tendencies that would
degrade and ruin us; but when once that limit is overpassed, it
transforms itself into a tyrannical master. Like many an Eastern
tyrant, it destroys all other lawful passions that might dispute with
it the throne (H. E. I., 400, 402).
II. But this passion, powerful as it is, may be controlled and
conquered. "The Medes . . . shall not regard silver; and as for gold,
they shall not delight in it." This means, not that they should be
exempt from the influence of this worldwide passion, but that in thee
it would be temporarily overborne by another more powerful
passion--the passion for revenge. For years the dominion of Babylon
over them had been maintained by the most relentless rigour and
frightful cruelties; and when the hour for successful revolt came,
the one thought of the Medes would be--_Revenge!_ That one intense
longing would consume all others; the men on whom it had laid hold
would forget their thirst for riches.
This really is only an instance and illustration of what Dr. Chalmers
used to call "the explosive power of a new affection." Many other
affections come up to the human heart, and expel avarice; _e.g.,_
love of wife or children, ambition, vanity, &c. We see, therefore,
that the love of money can be conquered, and as reasonable men always
in danger of being overcome by it, we should ask by what passion or
principle it can be conquered most nobly. That principle and that
passion is the love of Christ. Of those who are truly possessed by
it, it may be truly said that they do not regard silver; and as for
gold, they do not delight in it. They may have much money, and by
their splendid genius for business may be constantly gaining much
more; but they possess it, it does not possess them; they are _its_
masters. By the use of it they are ennobled. Let us pray that our
hearts may be garrisoned by this more powerful and noble passion;
then all the assaults of avarice upon them shall be made in vain. We
shall meet them as Christ Himself met the offer of all the wealth and
glory of the world; and the result will be, that we shall possess the
true riches which will be valuable in the eternal world (Matt.
iv. 8-10, vi. 19-21).