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Spiritual Gifts, Volume 4b
I saw that God could carry on his work without any of man’s help;
but this is not his plan. The present world is designed as a scene of
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probation for man. He is here to form a character which will pass with
him into the eternal world. Good and evil are placed before him, and
his future state depends upon the choice he makes. Christ came to
change the current of his thoughts and affections. His heart must be
cut off from his earthly treasure, and placed upon the heavenly. By his
self-denial, God can be glorified. The great sacrifice has been made
for man, and now man will be tested and proved to see if he will follow
the example of Jesus, and make a sacrifice for his fellowman. Satan
and his angels are combined against the people of God; but Jesus is
seeking to purify them unto himself. He requires them to advance his
work. God has deposited enough in this world among his people to
carry forward his work, without embarrassment, and it is his plan that
the means which he has entrusted to his people be used judiciously.
Sell that ye have and give alms, is a part of God’s sacred word. The
servants of God must arise, cry aloud, and spare not, “Show my people
their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins.” The work of
God is to be more extensive, and if his people follow his counsel, there
will not be much means in their possession to be consumed in the final
conflagration. All will have laid up their treasure where moth and rust
cannot corrupt, and the heart will not have a cord to bind it to earth.
Parables
I was then shown that the parable of the talents has not been fully
understood. This lesson of importance was given to the disciples for
the benefit of Christians living in the last days. And these talents do
not represent merely the ability to preach and instruct from the word
of God. The parable applies to the temporal means which God has
entrusted to his people. Those to whom the five and two talents were
given, traded and doubled that which was committed to their trust.
God requires of those who have their possessions here to put their
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money out to usury for him, to put it into the cause to spread the truth.
And if the truth lives in the heart of the receiver, he also will aid with
his substance in sending the truth to others, and through his efforts, his
influence, and his means, other souls embrace the truth, and begin also
to work for God. I saw that some of God’s professed people are like