280
The Adventist Home
realize that God is the giver of all good things, that the money is His,
then we shall exercise wisdom in its expenditure, conforming to His
holy will. The world, its customs, its fashions, will not be our standard.
We shall not have a desire to conform to its practices; we shall not
permit our own inclinations to control us
In our use of money we can make it an agent of spiritual improve-
ment by regarding it as a sacred trust, not to be employed to administer
to pride, vanity, appetite, or passion
I was shown that the recording angel makes a faithful record of
every offering dedicated to God and put into the treasury and also of
the final result of the means thus bestowed. The eye of God takes cog-
nizance of every farthing devoted to His cause and of the willingness
or reluctance of the giver. The motive in giving is also chronicled
Systematic Giving for the Family—“Let every one of you lay by
him in store, as God hath prospered him.” Every member of the family,
from the oldest down to the youngest, may take part in this work of
benevolence.... The plan of systematic benevolence [
Note: reference is
here made to plans followed early by the church in laying aside weekly
the tithes and offerings.—Compilers.
] will prove a safeguard to every
family against temptations to spend means for needless things, and
[369]
especially will it prove a blessing to the rich by guarding them from
indulging in extravagances.
Every week the demands of God upon each family are brought to
mind by each of its members fully carrying out the plan; and as they
have denied themselves some superfluity in order to have means to put
into the treasury, lessons of value in self-denial for the glory of God
have been impressed upon the heart. Once a week each is brought face
to face with the doings of the past week—the income that he might
have had if he had been economical, and the means that he does not
have because of indulgence. His conscience is reined up, as it were,
before God and either commends or accuses him. He learns that if he
retains peace of mind and the favor of God, he must eat and drink and
dress to His glory
4
Letter 8, 1889
.
5
Ibid
.
6
Testimonies For The Church 2, 518, 519
.
7
Ibid., 3:412
.