Chapter 23—The Author’s Stewardship
The Brain Worker’s Capital—Brain workers have a God-given
capital. The result of their study belongs to God, not to man. If the
worker faithfully gives to his employer the time for which he receives
his pay, then his employer has no further claim upon him. And if
by diligent and close economy of moments, he prepares other matter
valuable for publication, it is his to use as he thinks will best serve the
cause of God. If he gives up all but a small royalty, he has done a good
work for those who handle the book, and he should not be asked to do
more.—
Testimonies for the Church 5:563
(1889).
The Author’s Interest—God desires to bring men into direct
relation with Himself. In all His dealings with human beings He rec-
ognizes the principle of personal responsibility. He seeks to encourage
a sense of personal dependence, and to impress the need of personal
guidance. His gifts are committed to men as individuals. Every man
has been made a steward of sacred trusts; each is to discharge his trust
according to the direction of the Giver; and by each an account of his
stewardship must be rendered to God....
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In all our dealing with one another, God desires us carefully to
guard the principle of personal responsibility to and dependence upon
Him. It is a principle that should be especially kept in view by our
publishing houses in their dealing with authors.
It has been urged by some that authors have no right to hold the
stewardship of their own works; that they should give their works
over to the control of the publishing house or of the conference; and
that, beyond the expense involved in the production of the manuscript,
they should claim no share of the profit; that this should be left with
the conference or the publishing house, to be appropriated, as their
judgment shall direct, to the various needs of the work. Thus the
author’s stewardship of his work would be wholly transferred from
himself to others.
Accountability to God—But not so does God regard the matter.
The ability to write a book is, like every other talent, a gift from Him,
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