OCTOBER 3RD, 1896

OCTOBER 3RD, 1896

The matter in reference to which you write is one that has at one time or another exercised most. I think I may say that when I came into fellowship for a man to insure his life was considered a reproach and ^[p. 124] outside of the path and ways of brethren. It means that a man definitely sets aside a part of his income in order to assure the payment of a certain sum after his decease. As the duration of life is uncertain it must be more or less speculation and speculation on that which is in the hands of the Lord seems to me very undesirable for a believer, though, of course, justifiable enough in the eyes of man. It appears to me to have the effect of withdrawing so much of a man’s substance (of which he is steward) from the Lord’s control; which I should hardly think is well. If after a man has answered every demand which God has permitted to come upon him, he still finds himself in possession of a surplus, I can understand his devoting it for the benefit of those belonging to him — but this is different from the artificial means of life insurance and need not take a man out of the place of dependence. But all these things form part of our discipline and discover how far faith in God is real with us — and certainly God has His own ways of caring for His people outside of the ways of human prudence. May He give you wisdom in this and in all things.