SELF-FORGETFULNESS PAYS

St. Louis Camp Meeting -- Preaching Old Sermons -- The Secret of Getting Money

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Phil. 2:4.

     I was invited to a camp meeting at St. Louis, but was a little late in arriving. The meeting was in progress and rather than look on with an assumed air of generalship, as evangelists sometimes do, I felt led to kneel and pray the prayer of faith for the meeting.

     Doctor B____ and a "round-the-world evangelist" and the writer were the principal speakers. The world-wide evangelist, though considered very radical, wore the latest style of clothes and in other respects his appearance was of such a worldly type that I saw we could not work together in perfect accord unless God melted us together; so the first thing I did was to get a special anointing of love for him. I put my arms around him in the first service and from that time though I preached against all signs of worldliness, he dared not explain away the truth. I found that, under the anointing, I could say almost anything without there being a reaction, as was the case when I spoke in my own strength.

     Another thing I have learned is that, in order to be effectual for God in each new place, it will not do to resort to the same methods and sermons that proved successful in a previous meeting. It is so easy to become self-sufficient, relying on past unction and old "outlines," instead of going down afresh in fasting and prevailing prayer for new displays of divine power.

     Some evangelists and preachers keep a list of sermon outlines with dates showing when and where used, lest they deliver the same discourse the second time in the same place. We think a better way is to continually live in the Supernatural. Then old texts can be used and each time the preacher will say things he never thought of before. It is a query how men can be content to preach time after time from the same text, with no new revelations nor thunderclaps of God's awful power. No wonder they soon become seedy and are out of demand. Self-sufficiency and being content with present attainments have withered more than one preacher.

     I found in this meeting that not every preacher who could say good things from the pulpit could with equal grace be content with a small collection. The last morning of the meeting the treasurer of the camp informed us that, owing to the flood, many had been kept away, and they had succeeded in collecting only thirty dollars for the preachers. He suggested that it be divided equally among the three. This did not take well at all with the other two. My traveling expenses amounted to nearly thirty dollars, but I felt led to tell the treasurer to wait on the other brethren first and I would take what was left. The brethren left as early as they could get off, and as my train did not leave before noon, I preferred to remain on the camp ground and pray. All the campers had been drained for money and I did not see where my fare was coming from, but nevertheless felt easy.

     After having a good time praying through I walked across the camp ground, when I met a stylish-looking lady who had come to the altar the first day I preached. She wanted to get a couple of my little books, the price of which amounted to but fifteen cents. She asked me if I could change a ten-dollar bill and of course being unable to do so, I said, "Just keep the books." But no, she must pay for them, and after trying in vain to get others to change her bill, she came and said, "I think God wants me to give you this bill. I have five cents left which will pay my fare home and that is all I need." Later on I met the treasurer, who said that this lady had given him twenty dollars for the man who preached her under conviction. This, with his ten, made a total of forty dollars, and best of all we had not grumbled nor hurt our influence in getting it. Oh, that men would so die out as to hold still and let God reveal His miracle-working power in their behalf!

     Another incident: A prominent evangelist and the writer were in a large camp meeting thirty years ago. He received fifty dollars for services rendered. The treasurer came to me and said, "What shall we give you for your help?"

     I replied, "God will not let me put any price on my labors."

     "Well, others do it and it is all right for you."

     "I do not care what others do; I have made a covenant with God to accept as from Him whatever is given."

     "Will you be satisfied with fifteen dollars?"

     "Yes, or fifteen cents. I have never been left yet; and should such a thing ever occur, it would be one instance in which God Almighty failed."

     Another evangelist heard the conversation and said, "You could have had a great deal more if you had but asked for it."

     "Yes, but that accursed thing has ruined more than one and I am determined it shall not get the start of me." The result was, the fifty-dollar man was dropped while the fifteen-dollar man was invited back for the second and third years, each time receiving more than he expected. The avarice and grasping spirit of men hurt them more than most anything else.