Modern Day Humphrey MonMouths

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” - Mt 6:33

Have you heard of Chieh Huang or Dan Price or Humphrey Monmouth?  

Both Huang and Price made the news recently for their amazing, creative and generous approach to the companies they lead. 

Huang is the founder and CEO of Boxed. He just announced that he is putting up his own money and stock in the company to pay all of the college tuition for all his employees children. 

Price, in a similar act of selflessness, announced that he was going to reduce his $1M salary to $70,000, so that he can pay all his 120 employees at least that amount. 

Interestingly enough, neither Huang or Price are Christians.  

Humphrey Monmouth, on the other hand, was a devout Christian who made William Tyndale’s ministry possible by financing his efforts using his own merchant ships to smuggle New Testaments throughout England. He is what we call a “Gospel Patron” (Find out more about his story in this great book - Gospel Patrons by John Rinhart

So why do I bring these stories to mind? Because I know a lot of modern day Christians that are businessmen and women. I have had many conversations about God calling people to the “marketplace” and not to the “ministry,” so to speak. I have had many people tell me that God needs dentists and doctors, lawyers and teachers... And they are right.

BUT…

I don’t know a single Christian with a “marketplace calling” that has capped his income like Price or paid for their employees college like Huang. 

And, I long for the day that an army of Marketplace Missionaries rise up and work hard for our King, building His Kingdom with His resources. Men of women full of courage and strength that are willing to live well below their means, even cap their incomes, while earning massive amounts of money for one specific purpose - the advancement of the gospel! 

I pray that God raise up a harvest of modern-day Monmouths, that despise the world and it’s ways, the trappings of wealth & earthly treasure and love Christ and His Kingdom more than their own lives and comfort and bank accounts. It is inescapable, where we put our treasures, our hearts will follow (Mt 6:21!) May God help us to put our hearts in heaven by sending our resources ahead. 

Lord, it is Your Kingdom that we are called to advance, not our own. May we live simply, give generously and love lavishly while we are here on earth. For Your glory God, make us Gospel Patrons!

A special thanks to Daron Babcock for his contribution on this post.