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Spiritual Gifts, Volume 4b
I saw that God was displeased with the slack, loose manner in
which many of his professed people conduct their worldly business.
They seem to lose all sense of the fact that the property they are using
belongs to God, and they must render to him an account of their stew-
ardship. Some leave their worldly business in perfect confusion. Satan
has his eye on it all, and he strikes at a favorable opportunity, and by
his management takes much means out of the ranks of Sabbathkeepers.
And this means goes into his ranks. Some who are aged are unwilling
to make any settlement of their worldly business, and in an unexpected
moment they sicken and die. Their children who have no interest in the
truth, take the property. Satan has managed it as it has suited him. “If
therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who
will commit to your trust the true riches? If ye have not been faithful
in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your
own?” I saw the awful fact that Satan and his evil angels have had
more to do with the management of the property of God’s professed
people, than the Lord has. Stewards of the last days are unwise. They
suffer Satan to control their business matters, and get into his ranks
what belongs to, and should be in, the cause of God. God takes notice
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of you, unfaithful stewards; he will call you to account. I saw that the
stewards of God can by faithful, judicious management, keep their
business in this world square, exact, and straight. And if they should
be suddenly taken away, it is their privilege and duty, especially for
the aged, feeble, and those who have no children, to have their means
where it can be used in the cause of God. But I saw that Satan and his
angels exult over their success in this matter. And those who should
be wise heirs of salvation almost willingly let their Lord’s money slip
out of their hands into the enemy’s ranks. In this way they strengthen
Satan’s kingdom, and seem to feel very easy about it!
Surety, Oath-Taking, etc
I saw that God was displeased with his people for being surety
for unbelievers. I was directed to these texts.
Proverbs 22:26
. “Be
not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are surety for
debts.”
Proverbs 11:15
. “He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for
it; and he that hateth suretyship is sure.” Unfaithful stewards! They