Gain All You Can

"And it is our bounden duty to do this: We ought to gain all we can gain, without buying gold too dear, without paying more for it than it is worth. But this it is certain we ought not to do: we ought not to gain money at the expense of life, nor (which is in effect the same thing) at the expense of our health."

John Wesley, "The Use of Money"

Paul tells us to consider ourselves "a living sacrifice." Jesus calls us to "take up your cross daily" and follow him. Are these words intended to lead us to a short life expended for others, or are we allowed to care for ourselves as well?

Wesley believed the latter, despite his taking words of sacrifice seriously. He insists that all we have and are belongs to our Creator; he has an entire sermon devoted to the issue of sleep, teaching that too much sleep is "a sin against God." Wesley teaches us to care for ourselves precisely because we do belong to God, and we must treat God's belongings with respect, making the best use of them. 

It is in this mindset that Wesley writes the dictum familiar to Methodist clergy: "Gain all you can." This is not a call to negotiate for salary raises, a better pension, a nicer parsonage. It is a call to be gainfully employed, to use our time living out the vocation God has given us, and to do it well. "Gain all you can by honest industry. Use all possible diligence in your calling. Lose no time. If you understand yourself and your relation to God and man, you know you have none to spare. ...You should be continually learning, from the experience of others, or from your own experience, reading, and reflection, to do everything you have to do better to-day than you did yesterday."

At the same time, Wesley warns against work that harms ourselves and our neighbors. Gaining money is useful precisely insofar as it can be used to promote our own and others' physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being; gaining it by means that harm these is counter-productive. Using money as compensation for having endangered the health of others, whether by injurious work practices, temptations, or overwork, is sinful according to Wesley.

As we give "our" lives to God, we can do so by helping others and by gainful employment that produces income to help others. We thus ought to "gain all we can." This is not intended to be a burden, but a gift. As Wesley puts it: "in doing His will, we most effectually secure our own happiness." As Jesus puts it: "If you give up your life for me, you will find it."

What do you think?

Do you believe God is calling you to work in ways that are injurious to your health? Do you feel pressured by the world, by your congregation, and/or by church leadership to do so? In what sense do you feel it is appropriate to "gain all you can?"