Chapter 53—Failing to Count the Cost
There are men who do not move wisely. They are anxious to make
a large appearance. They think that outward display will give them
influence. In their work, they do not first sit down and count the cost,
to see whether they are able to finish what they have begun. Thus
they show their weakness. They show that they have much to learn
in regard to the necessity of moving carefully and guardedly. In their
self-confidence they make many mistakes. Thus some have received
harm from which they will never recover.
This has been the case with several who have felt competent to
establish and conduct sanitariums. Failure comes to them, and when
they find themselves involved in debt, they ask the Medical Missionary
Association to take over the unsuccessful institution and to assume its
liabilities.... It does harm to the Medical Missionary Association to
take over so many bankrupt sanitariums. Let those who have conducted
these sanitariums and who have walked in false paths, begin to think
sensibly. Let not failure be written upon them. This spoils the courage
of good men.
Men who might have done well if they had consecrated themselves
to God, if they had been willing to work in a humble way, enlarging
their business slowly, and refusing to go into debt, have made a failure
because they have not worked on right lines. And after getting into
difficulty, they have sold out, as men incompetent to manage. They
desired relief from financial pressure, and did not stop to think of the
after-results.
Those who help such ones out of difficulty are tempted to bind
[274]
them with such strong cords in the shape of pledges that ever after they
feel that they are bondslaves. They seldom outgrow the reputation of
poor management and failure.
To those who thus become involved in debt, I am instructed to say:
Do not give up if you are moving in right lines. Work with all your
power to relieve the situation yourselves. Do not throw an embarrassed
231