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Counsels on Stewardship
dependent upon the very things He has forbidden in His word—upon
those things that turn the mind away from God, from sobriety, from
piety and holiness?
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And what impression is made upon the minds of unbelievers? The
holy standard of the word of God is lowered into the dust. Contempt
is cast upon God and upon the Christian name. The most corrupt
principles are strengthened by this un-Scriptural way of raising means.
And this is as Satan would have it. Men are repeating the sin of Nadab
and Abihu. They are using common instead of sacred fire in the service
of God. The Lord accepts no such offerings.
All these methods for bringing money into His treasury are an
abomination to Him. It is a spurious devotion that prompts all such
devising. O what blindness, what infatuation, is upon many who claim
to be Christians! Church members are doing as did the inhabitants of
the world in the days of Noah, when the imagination of their hearts
was only evil continually. All who fear God will abhor such practices
as a misrepresentation of the religion of Jesus Christ.—
The Review
and Herald December 8, 1896
.
Liberality With No Depth of Principle
The minister may be the special favorite of some wealthy man,
and he may be very liberal with him; this gratifies the minister, and he
in turn lavishes praise upon the benevolence of his donor. His name
may be exalted by appearing in print, and yet that liberal donor may
be entirely unworthy of the credit given him.
His liberality did not arise from a deep, living principle to do good
with his means, to advance the cause of God because he appreciated
it, but from some selfish motive, a desire to be thought liberal. He
may have given from impulse, and his liberality have no depth of
principle. He may have been moved upon by listening to stirring
truth, which for the time being loosed his purse strings; yet, after all,
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his liberality has no deeper motive. He gives by spasms; his purse
opens spasmodically, and closes just as securely, spasmodically. He
deserves no commendation, for he is in every sense of the word a
stingy man; and unless thoroughly converted, purse and all, will hear
the withering denunciation, “Go to, now, ye rich men, weep and howl