Jeremy Hoover

I had something I was working on all day today so I didn't have time to create an audio devotional. Instead, I want to share with you two quotes from a tremendous book I'm reading called John Woolman's Journal.

John Woolman was an 18th century Friend (a Quaker) who spent a lot of time traveling the early American frontier visiting with different Friends groups and spreading the light of Christ. Woolman was convicted about slavery; he vehemently opposed it from a Christian perspective. This led him even to decline business where slaves were involved.

I hope you enjoy these two quotes. The first quote references Woolman's attitude at becoming a businessman, and the second quote references his realization after turning business away (he declined to write someone's will because the individual planned on passing his slaves to his children as part of the inheritance).

"I saw that an humble man, with the blessing of the Lord, might live on a little, and that where the heart was set on greatness, success in business did not satisfy the craving; but that commonly with an increase of wealth the desire of wealth increased. There was a care on my mind so to pass my time that nothing might hinder me from the most steady attention to the voice of the true Shepherd" (p. 18).

"I had fresh confirmation that acting contrary to present outward interest, from a motive of Divine love and in regard to truth and righteousness, and thereby incurring the resentments of people, opens the way to a treasure better than silver, and to a friendship exceeding the friendship of men" (p. 31).

What do you think of these quotes?