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Counsels on Stewardship
in a withered, neglected condition. Self-sacrifice, self-denial in every
church would change the order of things. “The silver is Mine, and the
gold is Mine, saith the Lord of hosts.” When that gold and silver is used
for selfish purposes, to gratify ambition or pride or selfish indulgence,
as has been done, God is dishonored.
Can those who are representative men be so sound asleep that they
do not comprehend that the state of things that exists is a result of
neglect on their part? When the people chosen by God embellish their
own houses, and invest God’s money in ... various things for selfish
gratification, knowing that the very means thus used should be used to
keep the house of God in the very best condition, that no means may
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be taken from the treasury to defray running expenses, they cannot be
blessed.
I have a message from the Lord. The churches must awaken from
their torpor, and think of these things. “The silver is Mine, and the
gold is Mine, saith the Lord of hosts.” Are we as families appropriating
the Lord’s silver and gold to selfish purposes, and doing nothing to
lighten the debt on His house? The churches are burdened with debt,
not because it is impossible for them to be freed, but because of
selfish indulgence on the part of the members. By this neglect God is
dishonored, and if He binds about your resources, be not blind as to
the cause. When you place the Lord first, and realize that the Lord’s
house is dishonored by debt, God will bless you.—
Manuscript 116,
1897
.
Need for Counsel and Cooperation
Dear Brother,
You will need in every move you make to know that you are moving
in that way that you will not follow your own judgment, but the united
advice of your brethren. You have failed in this work, working too
much independently.... You can borrow money. But have you taken
your brethren right along with you in your building plans? Have you
yoked up with them, and they with you? ... One man’s mind and
judgment is not to be allowed to become an efficiency in any case
where the building of a church is concerned. It takes every member
of the church who can carry responsibilities, and the minister is not
the man to lift this work alone.... This is a lesson you must learn, to