Foreword
This volume, “Counsels on Stewardship,” has been compiled and
is now sent forth in response to a widespread request for such a work.
A vast array of very practical and helpful instruction from the Spirit of
prophecy on stewardship has appeared during the years. This has been
printed in both periodical and book form, but this work is composed
largely of matter not now readily available to our workers and members.
In the current volumes there is available much additional instruction
on the same subject, very little of which has been used in this book.
We are thankful indeed that all may now have access to this choice
instruction given to the church in this convenient form. This volume
has been compiled in the office of the Ellen G. White Publications
under the direction of the Board of Trustees.
In the realm of Christian life and service the question of steward-
ship occupies a large and vital place. Every Christian believer is deeply
and continuously concerned. Our recognition of the sovereignty of
God, of his ownership of all things, and of the bestowal of his grace
upon us, is included in a proper understanding of the principles of
stewardship. As our comprehension of these principles grows and
expands, we are led into a fuller understanding of the way God’s love
and grace operate in our lives.
While the principles of a stewardship concern material things, they
are, above all, of a spiritual character. The service of Christ is a reality.
The Lord requires certain things of us in order that he may do certain
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things for us. The doing of those required things in harmony with
the divine will lifts the whole matter of stewardship to a high spiritual
plane. The Lord is not exacting. He does not arbitrarily demand either
that we serve him or that we recognize him by returning to him of
those things which he gives to us. But he has so arranged the divine
economy that as a result of our working in harmony with him in these
things, there flow back to us great spiritual blessings. We shall be
destitute of these blessings if we fail to cooperate with him in carrying
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