54
Counsels on Stewardship
earnest prayers for wisdom to understand your duty.”—
Testimonies
for the Church 5:733, 734
.
Possessions to Decrease Rather Than Increase
It is now that our brethren should be cutting down their possessions
instead of increasing them. We are about to move to a better country,
even a heavenly. Then let us not be dwellers upon the earth, but be
getting things into as compact a compass as possible.
The time is coming when we cannot sell at any price. The decree
will soon go forth prohibiting men to buy or sell of any man save he
that hath the mark of the beast.—
Testimonies for the Church 5:152
.
Preparation for Time of Trouble
Houses and lands will be of no use to the saints in the time of
trouble, for they will then have to flee before infuriated mobs, and at
that time their possessions cannot be disposed of to advance the cause
of present truth. I was shown that it is the will of God that the saints
should cut loose from every encumbrance before the time of trouble
comes, and make a covenant with God through sacrifice. If they have
their property on the altar, and earnestly inquire of God for duty, He
will teach them when to dispose of these things. Then they will be free
[60]
in the time of trouble, and have no clogs to weigh them down.
I saw that if any held on to their property, and did not inquire of
the Lord as to their duty, He would not make duty known, and they
would be permitted to keep their property, and in the time of trouble it
would come up before them like a mountain to crush them, and they
would try to dispose of it, but would not be able. I heard some mourn
like this: “The cause was languishing, God’s people were starving for
the truth, and we made no effort to supply the lack; now our property
is useless. O that we had let it go, and laid up treasure in heaven!”
I saw that a sacrifice did not increase, but it decreased and was
consumed. I also saw that God had not required all of His people to
dispose of their property at the same time, but if they desired to be
taught, He would teach them, in a time of need, when to sell and how
much to sell. Some have been required to dispose of their property in
times past to sustain the advent cause, while others have been permitted