Chapter 32—Wealth Misused
Hoarded wealth is not merely useless; it is a curse. In this life it
is a snare to the soul, drawing the affections away from the heavenly
treasure. In the great day of God its witness to unused talents and
neglected opportunities will condemn its possessor.
There are many who in their hearts charge God with being a hard
master because He claims their possessions and their service. But we
can bring to God nothing that is not already His. “All things come
of Thee,” said King David, “and of Thine own have we given Thee.”
All things are God’s, not only by creation, but by redemption. All the
blessings of this life and of the life to come are delivered to us stamped
with the cross of Calvary.—
The Review and Herald, December 23,
1902
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Transformed Through Love
Truth, set home to the heart by the Spirit of God, will crowd out
the love of riches. The love of Jesus and the love of money cannot
dwell in the same heart. The love of God so far surpasses the love of
money that the possessor breaks away from his riches and transfers his
affections to God. Through love he is then led to minister to the wants
of the needy and to assist the cause of God. It is his highest pleasure to
make a right disposition of his Lord’s goods. He holds all that he has
as not his own, and faithfully discharges his duty as God’s steward.
Then he can keep both the great commandments of the law: “Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul,
and with all thy mind.” “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
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In this way it is possible for a rich man to enter the kingdom of
God. “And everyone that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters,
or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name’s sake,
shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” Here is
the reward for those who sacrifice for God. They receive a hundredfold
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