Ramblings!

January 13th in China Missions History

Adapted from: 
AustinGardner.net’s January 13th in World Evangelism History

On this day in 1887, C.T. Studd gives away his entire inheritance to the work of Christ. In his father’s will, it stipulated that when the C.T. Studd turned 25, he would receive his share of the inheritance. By this time, Studd had already spent two years in Chungking, China, working with Taylor and the China Inland Mission. Already, he had given up a career as one of the most successful cricket players in all of England. Already, he had given up the comforts of a plush, social life filled with ease. Already, he had left family and friends behind. But now, he was faced with yet another decision: what would he do with his inheritance? He was about to receive £29,ooo. It is hard to determine the average worth of this amount to today’s currency, but by using this site and this information, we estimated the modern value of his fortune would have been between £20 to £30 million, or $30 to $45 million. This is a massive amount of money to be handed to a 25 year old. But what would he do with it?

Studd sought out council from several friends, including Hudson Taylor. But what rang truest to him were the words of Christ to the rich young ruler in Mark 10:21, “One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” Studd writes:

“One day, when I was reading the harmonies of the gospels, I came to where Christ talked to the rich young man. Then God seemed to bring back to me all the vows I had made. A few days later, the post which only came every half month brought letters from the solicitor and banker to tell me what I inherited. Then God made me just ordinarily honest and told me what to do…God had promised to give a hundred fold for everything we give to him. A hundred fold is a wonderful percentage…10,000%””

And so he gave it all away. 20% went to the Salvation army’s work in India, which was used to send out 50 new officers throughout the country. 20% went to George Muller, for both the work among the orphans and the mission work he did in foreign fields. 20% went to D.L Moody, who used the money to start a small school in Chicago, called the Moody Bible Institute. 20% went to George Holland for his work among the poor in London. The rest was distributed to other works and friends, especially among the CIM. His last act was to give about 2 million pounds to his fiance, so she wouldn’t be in need or want during their work together. Her response? “Charlie, what did the Lord tell the rich man to do?” “Sell all.” “Well then, we will start clear with the Lord on our wedding!” and she gave her money away too. In a poem Studd wrote, he ends with this, “Only one life,’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

Source: C.T.Studd – Cricketer and Pioneer By: Norman Grubb | Studd’s Poem