Chapter 48—Living Within the Income
Many, very many, have not so educated themselves that they can
keep their expenditures within the limit of their income. They do
not learn to adapt themselves to circumstances, and they borrow and
borrow again and again, and become overwhelmed in debt, and conse-
quently they become discouraged and disheartened.
Many do not remember the cause of God, and carelessly expend
money in holiday amusements, in dress and folly, and when there is
a call made for the advancement of the work in home and foreign
missions, they have nothing to give, or even have overdrawn their
account. Thus they rob God in tithes and offerings, and through their
selfish indulgence they lay the soul open to fierce temptations, and fall
into the wiles of Satan.
We should be on our guard, and not allow ourselves to spend money
upon that which is unnecessary, and simply for display. We should
not permit ourselves to indulge tastes that lead us to pattern after the
customs of the world, and rob the treasury of the Lord.—
The Review
and Herald, December 19, 1893
.
Industry and Economy in the Family
I was shown that you, my brother and sister, have much to learn.
You have not lived within your means. You have not learned to econo-
mize. If you earn high wages, you do not know how to make it go as
far as possible. You consult taste or appetite instead of prudence. At
times you expend money for a quality of food in which your brethren
[250]
cannot afford to indulge. Dollars slip from your pocket very easily....
It is as wrong for you to fail to use your strength to the best advan-
tage, as it is for a rich man to covetously retain his riches because it
is agreeable to do so. You do not make the exertion that you should
to support your family. You can and do work if work is conveniently
prepared to hand; but you do not exert yourself to set yourself to work,
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