1912 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

feasting and music and selfish aggregation of wealth regardednot the work of the Lord, neither considered theoperation of His hands. In applying this to our day, letit not be thought that we are objecting that the wealthydo not contribute sufficiently for the maintenance of thevarious denominations of Christendom.The thought we gather is that God would have theprosperous people of our day take a broad view of Hiswork, of humanity in general. He would have them concentratetheir mental powers and force of character, notupon the personal aggregation of wealth, but upon generousschemes for the blessing and uplifting of the entirerace. "The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof";"He hath given it to the children of men." Ultimately,according to the Scriptures, He intends that the worldas a whole is to share, upon a basis of equality, all ofearth's advantages.Thus Socialism, according to the Bible, will be theultimate condition of the earth in which all mankind willreceive a blessing. Socialists, not aware of this teachingof God's Word, these promises of the future, or if awareof them doubting them, propose to take over in the interestof all mankind the great blessings which are now in thehands of the comparatively few. To us their schemes appeardangerous, impracticable. To us it appears, as theScriptures indicate, that failing to accomplish their benevolentdesigns, Socialists will become bitter anarchists,and plunge themselves and the whole world into the mostawful trouble ever known.But what an opportunity is now slipping through thefingers of some of the very wealthy--an opportunity tojoin in with the noblest and best of the Socialists and helpto lead the masses of the people, not toward anarchy, butaway from it--toward the conditions which God's Wordand the principles of Justice and righteousness set beforeus as the proper conditions--the ideal conditions!Among the many wealthy people of our day are somemulti-millionaires, who could accomplish much for mankind,and who, indeed, have already accomplished much,and who have the wealth necessary and those hearts, webelieve, are longing for an opportunity to do good; butR5112 : page 315doubtless the opportunity will pass unimproved; the timeof trouble foretold will fall upon the race.We must admit, in any event, that even if Socialismwere established in the world it could not be maintainedin any degree of perfection except by men thoroughlyconverted to God--men who would feel their responsibilityto God and to men. In other words, what we need isthe conversion of the world, not merely to an outwardbowing of the knee, but to a heart-harmony with God andthe principles of His righteousness.Will this ever come? Ah, yes! The mouth of theLord hath spoken it! But it cannot come through any