Men of Substance

Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing that ye have in yourselves a better and enduring substance.--Heb. 10: 34 (Moffatt).

These were Christians living in pagan communities. To be a Christian in those communities, meant persecution. And so, after becoming Christians, they “endured a great fight of afflictions; partly, whilst they were made a gazing stock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst they became companions of them that were so used” (vv. 32-33).

Here were people held up to obloquy and whose belongings had been confiscated. They did not flinch under obloquy. They took cheerfully the loss of their goods. Stripped of their earthly possessions, they still had their faith, their honor, their character, their hope in God; and these constituted “a better and an enduring substance”--a substance which moth nor rust could corrupt, which no thief could steal, which not even death could despoil (Matt. 6: 20).

We often hear it said of a man that he is a man of substance, by which is meant that he possesses a substantial amount of property, what we call “real estate.” It would be very applicable if it stood for character, truth, moral power, spiritual resources. For it happens that, in the supreme realm in ourselves, our personal estate of great and fine qualities--is our true “real estate.”

Those Christians of whom the text speaks, had not only lost their goods, they had lost their good names as good names went in their communities; they had been stripped of their standing and favor among their neighbors. This was a harder blow than losing their property, yet they took it in their stride.

Men of substance they were indeed!

To determine whether one is a man of substance, you must consider whether he has in himself the qualities that can stand up, strong and solid, if all such things as money, position, fame, and worldly consideration were stripped away--whether in such circumstances he would have the spiritual resources to sustain him and keep him going.

Not unless men are equal to the test, can they qualify as being men of substance.