William Borden (November 1, 1887 – April 9, 1913) was a born into wealth and privilege as an heir to the varied and vast Borden estate. His mother converted to the Christian faith in 1894 and William himself eventually came to faith under the preaching of R.A. Torrey at Chicago Avenue Church. Following high school the young millionaire’s graduation gift was a trip around the world. As he travelled through Europe, Asia, and the Middle East he became burdened for hurting people. He wrote home stating his intentions to become a missionary. He committed himself to preparing for the mission field; one step being to give away his wealth ($1,000,000 to China Inland Mission and other Christian agencies). A concerned friend expressed to the talented young man: “You are throwing your life away as a missionary.” Before going to the mission field Borden undertook university studies at Yale and Princeton Theological Seminary. He entered Yale in 1905 and in short order made a lasting impression. One fellow student wrote: “He came to college far ahead, spiritually, of any of us. He had already given his heart in full surrender to Christ and had really done it. We who were his classmates learned to lean on him and find in him a strength that was solid as a rock, just because of this settled purpose and consecration.”[1] In his first semester he started a morning prayer and bible study group with one other student. By the end of his first year 150 freshmen were involved in similar studies. By his senior year 1000 of Yale’s 1300 students were engaged in bible and prayer groups! Besides his on campus outreach he was concerned for the downtrodden. In order to minister to alcoholics on the street he founded the Yale Hope Mission. Not surprisingly following graduation he received many high salaried job offers – all of which he turned down. He went off to Princeton for theological studies and upon completion undertook his mission work in China. His father had warned him that should he enter the mission field he would not allow him to return to the family business. Desiring to minister to Kansu Muslims in China’s north he stopped first in Egypt to learn Arabic. Sadly, whilst there he contracted cerebral meningitis and died. He was 25. What do we make of this? Was his friend right, had he thrown his life away recklessly? Borden was a noted journaler and note taker. Following his death three notes were found at the back of his bible: “No reserves” (dated at the time of his giving away of wealth), “No returns” (after committing to the mission field), and “No regrets” shortly before his death. On his tombstone was written the following epitaph:
A man in Christ
He arose and forsook all and followed Him,
Kindly affectioned with brotherly love,
Fervent in spirit serving the Lord,
Rejoicing in hope,
Patient in tribulation,
Instant in prayer,
Communicating to the necessity of saints,
In honour preferring others,
Apart from faith in Christ,
There is no explanation for such a life.
This Sunday as we near the end of our study of Ecclesiastes we will be examining the Christian perspective of risk and reward (Ecclesiastes 11:1-6), and encouraging ourselves to live a life of “No regrets.”
Much love,
Pastor Gary
[1] Taylor, Mrs. Howard, Borden of Yale ’09: “The Life that Counts”, China Inland Mission, 1926, p98
As we gather for Sunday worship, we want you to meet with God and be transformed by the Word. Prepare your heart by reading the passage and listening to the songs for Sunday.
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