Chapter 29—Methods of Acquiring Wealth
There are those, even among Seventh-day Adventists, who are
under the reproof of the word of God, because of the way they acquired
their property and use it, acting as if they owned it, and created it,
without an eye to the glory of God, and without earnest prayer to direct
them in acquiring or using it. They are grasping at a serpent, which
will sting them as an adder.
Of God’s people He says, “Her merchandise and her hire shall be
holiness to the Lord: it shall not be treasured nor laid up.” But many
who profess to believe the truth do not want God in their thoughts, any
more than did the antediluvians or Sodomites. One sensible thought
of God, awakened by the Holy Spirit, would spoil all their schemes.
Self, self, self, has been their god, their alpha and their omega.
Christians are safe only in acquiring money as God directs, and
using it in channels which He can bless. God permits us to use His
goods with an eye single to His glory, to bless ourselves, that we
may bless others. Those who have adopted the world’s maxim, and
discarded God’s specifications, who grasp all they can obtain of wages
or goods, are poor, poor indeed, because the frown of God is upon
them. They walk in paths of their own choosing, and do dishonor to
God, to truth, to His goodness, to His mercy, His character.
Now, in probationary time, we are all on test and trial. Satan is
working with his deceiving enchantments and bribes, and some will
think that by their schemes they have made a wonderful speculation.
But lo, as they thought they were rising securely, and were carrying
themselves loftily in selfishness, they learned that God can scatter
[142]
faster than they can gather.—
Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel
Workers, 335, 336
.
Integrity in Business
As we deal with our fellow men in petty dishonesty, or in more
daring fraud, so will we deal with God. Men who persist in a course
123