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Selected Messages Book 2
to be entrusted with the eternal, heavenly reward in the mansions
Christ has gone to prepare for those who deny self and take up the
cross and follow Him. The fitness of men to enter the blood-bought
inheritance is tested during this probationary life. Those who have the
spirit of self-sacrifice manifested in Christ, when He gave Himself for
the salvation of fallen man, are those who will drink of the cup and
be baptized with the baptism, and they will share in the glory of the
Redeemer.—
Letter 41, 1890
.
[196]
The Importance of Self-Denial
I was shown that the office of publication should not be conducted
on the same principles as are other publishing houses; for it is to be
something after the order of a training school. Everyone connected
with it is to be a true missionary, and work upon the same principles
that brought it into existence. Self-denial should characterize all the
workers....
Self-denial should characterize the men employed in responsible
positions in the office, and they should be an example to all the workers.
The office was brought into existence through self-denial, and the same
spirit should be manifested and maintained. The great object must
be kept in view. This is missionary work, and those who have no
missionary spirit should not continue in the work.—
Letter 5, 1892
.
A Threat to All Our Institutions
Paul could see evils coming into the church, and he declared, “I am
jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one
husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear,
lest, by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so
your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ”
(
2 Corinthians 11:2, 3
).
This is the evil which today threatens our schools, our institutions,
our churches. Unless corrected, it will imperil the souls of many. One
man will think that he should be greatly favored, because he is doing a
line of work which among unbelievers would command large wages.
Becoming dissatisfied, he will sell himself to the highest bidder. For
the safety of the principles that should control all who labor in our