even if

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
- Matthew 5:17-20

When He rode into Jerusalem in triumph, we do not read that He disdained to confess that the humble fishermen were His followers. And “Now, though He reigns exalted on high, His love is still as great.” He still calls us Brethren, Friends! He still recognizes the kinship of the one blood. And yet, strange to say, we have known many Christians who have forgotten much of their love to Christ when they have risen in the world. “Ah,” said a woman who had been desirous to do much for Christ in poverty and who had had a great sum left her, “I cannot do as much as I used to do.” “But how is that?” asked one. She said, “When I had a shilling purse, I had a guinea heart, but now that I have a guinea purse, I have only a shilling heart.” It is a sad temptation to some men to get rich. They were con- tent to go to the Meeting House and mix with the ignoble congregation while they had but little. They have grown rich; there is an Oriental carpet in the drawing room—they now have arrangements too splendid to permit them to invite the poor of the flock, as once they did. And Christ Jesus is not so fashionable as to allow them to introduce any religious topic when they meet with their new friends. Besides this, they say they are now obliged to pay this visit and that visit—and they must spend so much time upon attire—and in maintaining their station and respectability, they cannot find time to pray as they did. The House of God has to be neglected for the party and Christ has less of their heart than He ever had. “Is this your kindness to your Friend?” And have you risen so high that you are ashamed of Christ? And have you grown so rich, that Christ in His poverty is despised? Alas, poor wealth! Alas, base wealth! Vile wealth! It were well for you if it should be all swept away if a descent to poverty would be a restoration to the ardency of your affection!