Avoid Debt
God does not want His work to be continually embarrassed with
debt. When it seems desirable to add to the buildings or other facilities
of an institution, beware of going beyond your means. Better to defer
the improvements until Providence shall open the way for them to be
made without contracting heavy debts and having to pay interest.
The publishing houses have been made places of deposit by
our people and have thus been enabled to furnish means to support
branches of the work in different fields and have aided in carrying
other enterprises. This is well. None too much has been done in these
lines. The Lord sees it all. But, from the light He has given me, every
effort should be made to stand free from debt.
The publishing work was founded in self-denial and should be
conducted upon strictly economical principles. The question of finance
can be managed if, when there is a pressure for means, the workers
will consent to a reduction in wages. This was the principle the Lord
revealed to me to be brought into our institutions. When money is
scarce, we should be willing to restrict our wants.
Let the proper estimate be placed upon the publications, and then
let all in our publishing houses study to economize in every possible
way even though considerable inconvenience is thus caused. Watch
the little outgoes. Stop every leak. It is the little losses that tell heavily
in the end. Gather up the fragments; let nothing be lost. Waste not
the minutes in talking; wasted minutes mar the hours. Persevering
diligence working in faith, will always be crowned with success.
Some think it beneath their dignity to look after small things. They
think it the evidence of a narrow mind and a niggardly spirit. But small
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leaks have sunk many a ship. Nothing that would serve the purpose of
any should be allowed to waste. A lack of economy will surely bring
debt upon our institutions. Although much money may be received, it
will be lost in the little wastes of every branch of the work. Economy
is not stinginess.
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