Eternal
Wealth Is Not Always Obvious
From our earthly vantage point, it is impossible
to know exactly who is richer in the Kingdom of God. Jesus indicated from the
example of the widow's two mites that what is in the giver's heart is more
important than what is in the giver's hand. If one man had a million dollars to
his name and he gave $1,000 to God's work, his gift would be dwarfed by a man
who lived in poverty yet gave $20 to God.
Having a church which seats 10,000 people, a
series of best-selling books, and a successful radio and TV outreach ministry
might indicate that a pastor is building up great treasure in Heaven, but
again, spiritual success can sometimes be hard to recognize.
Consider the case of Robert Morrison, the first
Protestant missionary to China. He sailed into the port of Canton in 1807 and
labored there 27 years until his death in 1834. During the entire span of
Morrison's missionary career, he only baptized ten Chinese nationals. His
pioneering work, which included a six-volume Chinese dictionary and a
translation of the Bible, laid the foundation upon which other missionaries
later built. The mind of man might perceive Morrison to be a complete failure,
but God surely thinks otherwise.
2 comments:
How inspiring. I did a little research:
The epitaph on his grave reads:
SACRED to THE MEMORY of ROBERT MORRISON, DD
The first Protestant missionary to CHINA
Where after a service of twenty-seven years cheerfully spent in extending the kingdom of the blessed Redeemer during which period he compiled and published A DICTIONARY OF THE CHINESE LANGUAGE, founded the Anglo Chinese College at Malacca and for several years laboured alone on a Chinese version of THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, which he was spared to see complete and widely circulated among those for whom it was destined, he sweetly slept in Jesus.
He was born at Morpeth in Northumberland January 5th 1782
Was sent to China by the London Missionary Society in 1807
Was for twenty five years Chinese translator in the employ of The East India Company
and died in Canton August 1st 1834
***
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth
Yea saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them
In 1934, on the 100th anniversary of Morrison's death, the Chinese Christian Church of Guang-Dong erected a tablet next to his grave, which read:
Dr. Robert Morrison 100-year remembrance memorial stone epitaph
The story of a Christian Protestant who came to China to evangelize. Mr. Robert Morrison, in preparation for ministry, studied astronomy, medicine, and Chinese prior to his journey to China in 1807. Passing through the continent of America, a journey totaling 222 days, he arrived safely at Yang-Zhi. He stayed in a commercial market secretly doing Christian mission work. The situation was hostile: the Chinese Qing government made missionary activity illegal and they were under constant surveillance by the Roman Catholics. Nevertheless Dr. Morrison was not discouraged but established a printing press in Macau. He printed his hand-translated Bible, Prayers, Holy Hymns, and pamphlets.
Afterwards he moved to Malacca and established the Ying-Wa College to educate the next generation to face a dark and dictatorial age. Though his works were dangerous he went forward courageously. He certainly received the help of God since he was physically weak and the working environment was poor and full of trials. Only his eldest was with him as the rest of his family stayed behind. He wrote over 200 plus communiqués home to notify that the environment was challenging but he was not giving up. Through his dedication his biggest achievement was to successfully establish a solid foundation for the Church in China.
On 1834, August 1st he passed away in sickness. Countless believers of all kinds cried in remembrance at his deathbed. He died in the hope that 100 years later the Gospel he planted would grow 10,000 fold, to places the eyes can see, to reach out to all the peoples.
We erect this stone on the 100th anniversary of the passing of Mr. Morrison. From all the members of the Chinese Christian Church of Guang-Dong Association, in remembrance of a past giant, to express our highest admiration and sincerest, humble sadness and to express our eternal gratitude.
The great Mr. Morrison had a Christ-centered heart. Through the will of God he spread the Gospel. By the guidance of the Holy Spirit he went through dangers to arrive at his destination. Through him came many blessings to the Chinese people like the rains are to the ground. In suffering and trails he remained firm. He never gave up and was always dedicated. Great is his humbleness beyond any past generations. The memory of him will last in eternity.
What a man! He actually reminds me in a way of Dr Paul Thistle, in the way that he lived among the people and worked for little monetary reward - content just to fulfil his calling, despite the opposition.
I have been blessed by this article - thank you.
What a blessing to know from a small grain of mustard seed ministry a mighty tree grows as many are held a loft in its rising branches.
This surely is a challenge to those who still today labour for the kingdom in mission and ministry.
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