166
Selected Messages Book 2
had brought a loving, trusting spirit into their work, they would have
continued to be first.
The Lord Jesus estimates the work done by the spirit in which it is
done. At a late hour He will accept penitent sinners who come to Him
in humble faith and are obedient to His commandments.
Christ warns those in His service that they are not to bargain for a
stipulated sum, as though their Master would not deal truly with them.
He gave this parable that murmurers would not receive sympathy on
account of their supposed grievances.—
Manuscript 87, 1899
.
True prosperity can never come to the soul that is constantly aspir-
ing to get higher wages, and who yields to the temptation that leads
him away from the work that God has appointed him. There neverwho
can be prosperity for any man, or any family, or any firm or institu-
tion, unless the wisdom of God presides.—
Letter 2, 1898
(Tract
To the
Leading Men of Our Churches, 4
.).
[183]
“An Expensive Family”
Men have written to me saying that they must have high wages,
and pleading as an excuse an expensive family. And at the same
time the institution with which they were connected was obliged to
figure closely to meet running expenses. Why should anyone plead an
expensive family as a reason for demanding high wages? Is not the
lesson that Christ has given sufficient? He says, “If any man will come
after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me”
(
Matthew 16:24
).
Our institutions were established to serve as an effectual means of
advancing the work of soulsaving. Those connected with them are to
study how they can help the institution, not how they can take the most
out of the treasury. If they grasp more than is their due, they hinder
the cause of God. Let everyone connected with these institutions say:
“I will not set my wages at a high figure, because that would rob the
treasury, and the proclamation of the message of mercy would be
hindered. I must practice economy. Those who are out in the field are
doing a work that is as essential as the work that I am doing. I must
do all in my power to help them. It is God’s means that I am handling,
and I will do as Christ would do in my place. I will not spend money
for luxuries. I will remember the Lord’s workers in mission fields.