As a young man, missionary Charles Thomas Studd (1860-1931) had it all. A famous cricket champion during his days at Eton and Cambridge, fame and success were his. But after the death of his older brother George, he began to question it all. “What is all the fame and flattery worth,” he wondered, “when a man has to face eternity?”
“I knew that cricket would not last, and honor would not last. Nothing in this world would last,” he said, “only the world to come is worth living for.”
Only God’s Kingdom
CT, as he was known, was already a missionary in China when he inherited £29,000 at the age of 25. A veritable fortune in those days!
But he wanted to prove that we can always count on God to provide for our needs. So he gave it all to orphanages and missions. All that is except for £3,400. That was his wedding present to Priscilla, his fiancée.
But Priscilla did not want to be outdone by her husband, so she gave that away as well.
Things weren’t always easy for the Studds on the mission field. On one occasion Charles said, “Our funds are low again, hallelujah! That means God trusts us and is willing to put His reputation in our hands.”
He saw hard times as an opportunity to show the world that God provides. That we can trust Him to take care for us. And that, in a certain sense, God’s reputation is in our hands.
The Studds left an outstanding example of faith and faithfulness. They firmly believed that no sacrifice was too great to make for God. They gave both their fortunes and their lives to serve the Lord on the mission field.
And they left us with the lesson that God trusts each of us with His reputation. He entrusts us to show that He is faithful.
And they left us with the lesson that no sacrifice is too great to make for Him.
If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for him.
CT Studd
God entrusts us with His reputation
What a privilege! We are entrusted with the reputation of Almighty God, the Creator of the universe!
For the Studds, this meant leaving everything behind to serve as foreign missionaries. They longed to share the peace and joy they’d found in knowing Christ. And to faithfully represent God’s character.
1. Are the funds dwindling?
Are the cupboards bare? That’s when God trusts us to show the faith and peace He has put in our hearts. The unshakeable peace that only He can give. He wants us to look to Him with confidence, knowing that He has only good things planned for us.
2. Has someone has wronged you or you’ve had a fight?
God trusts us to extend forgiveness and restoration to others, as He has done for us. He waits for us to take the first step. To apologize, even when we’re not in the wrong. And to extend the mercy and grace that He gives us.
3. Are you afraid of what’s happening in the world?
God trusts us to show that His unfailing love casts out fear. To reach out in love, not retreat in fear. To give and give and give, no matter the cost.
And in doing so, we show who Christ is. We uphold His reputation. Because the only thing some may ever know about Christ is what we show in our lives. What message of Christ do others receive through us?
Signora Sheila 
18 responses to “CT Studd and God’s Reputation”
This is so helpful to me, Sheila. I love how Studd welcomed hardship as an avenue for God to show Himself faithful and reliant. That’s what I have learned but still at times recoil from hard times instead of welcoming them. Thank you for this post!
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I’m glad it encouraged you Patty. The Studd’s faith and faithfulness are so encouraging, even after so many years! I hope to learn from it and also be able to welcome everything, even hard times, as gifts from God’s hands. But I still have far to go!!
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Lives like this remind me how far I have to go.
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You and me both, Donna. But we can keep following in their footsteps!
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“To reach out in love, not retreat in fear.” What powerful words–and what an amazing couple the Studds were. Looking upon challenges as opportunities to be trusted with God’s reputation. That is a perspective I’d love to develop! Thanks for this, Sheila!
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Yes, they had amazing faith and trust in God. And it is a powerful statement. Everything we say and do reflects on our Father. I find that extremely sobering. But also an awesome opportunity!
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“Funds are low again, hallelujah!” What a wonderful attitude of trust the Studds demonstrated. And I appreciated your questions, Sheila, that help extrapolate C.T.’s words into other areas besides finances. What came to my mind was, “The to-do list has grown long again, hallelujah! I get another chance to see how God will engineer these circumstances so everything works out in the end” (Romans 8:28)! Thank you, Sheila!
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Hi Nancy, I agree! C.T. Studd was an amazing man and missionary! I also love your addition to the list! And I guess we could also add to the to-do list: Hallelujah, the list is long again! Another chance to show how God can help me be patient and have more self-control! It is so amazing that he trusts us with all of this! Take care!
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Powerful! We are responsible for being His witnesses! Simply an incredible thing!
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C.T. Studd was an amazing man!! I can’t wait to meet him! That was such an amazing thought- that God TRUSTS us properly show who he is. Even though he knows how weak and faulty we are. It truly is amazing!
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Thank you for this wonderful take on this subject. It was very helpful. God bless :)
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I’m glad you found it helpful. The saddest thing I’m seeing, is that in the midst of the complex situation, political wrangling seems to take precedence over the people. Many refugees have become our friends. And as we visit the camps, we have two thoughts on constant replay. 1. Could God be using this crisis to bring people here just to finally be able to hear the Gospel? 2. Could he have put us here for just such a time as this? His hands, his feet, showing what his heart is like…? thanks for your imput from The Mount!
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It is very probable that it is God’s intention to share His love through you. It is wonderful what you are doing.
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We are certain God wants to use us share his love. That’s why we go! But it’s not we who do wonderful things. Rather HIM who does wonderful things through us, and in spite of us. Only he can give these people the assurance they need. Thanks for keeping us in prayer!
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Yes, it is all up to Him, and it is up to us to open our hearts and say ‘Yes!’
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So true, and yes, yes, and yes!! :)
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May every one of us live in mind of God’s reputation. May Jesus be well pleased with all of our thoughts and actions. Thanks for sharing.
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The old missionaries have so much to teach us. I know I, personally, too often forget that with my thoughts, actions & words, I’m presenting a picture of Christ to those around me. Glad it blessed you, Tom.
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