Grasping for Riches
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transaction. Be on your guard. It is time that deep, earnest thought
should be given to laying up treasure in heaven, where neither moth
nor rust doth corrupt, not thieves break through and steal.—
Special
Testimonies, Series B, No. 17a, 4, 5
[“The Unwise Use of Money and
the Spirit of Speculation”].
The Infatuation of New Enterprises
If a new patent passes through the country, men who profess to
believe the truth find a way to raise means to invest in the enterprise.
God is acquainted with every heart. Every selfish motive is known
to Him, and He suffers circumstances to arise to try the hearts of
His professed people, to prove them and develop character. In some
instances the Lord will suffer men to go on, and meet with an entire
failure. His hand is against them to disappoint their hopes and scatter
what they possess.
Those who really feel an interest in the cause of God, and are
willing to venture something for its advancement, will find it a sure
and safe investment. Some will have a hundredfold in this life, and
in the world to come life everlasting. But all will not receive their
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hundredfold in this life, because they cannot bear it. If entrusted with
much, they would become unwise stewards. The Lord withholds if
for their good; but their treasure in heaven will be secure. How much
better is such an investment as this!
Drunk with Anticipated Gains
The desire that some of our brethren possess to earn means fast,
leads them to engage in a new enterprise and invest means, but often
their expectations of making money are not realized. They sink that
which they could have spent in God’s cause. There is an infatuation
in these new enterprises. And notwithstanding these things have been
acted over so many times, and they have before them the example of
others who have made investments and have met with an utter failure,
yet many are slow to learn. Satan allures them on, and makes them
drunk with anticipated gains.
When their hopes are blasted, they suffer many discouragements
in consequence of their unwise adventures. If means is lost, the person
looks upon it as a misfortune to himself,—as his loss. But he must