Chapter 31—Careful Management and Promotion
Lift the Debts—God designs that we shall learn lessons from the
failures of the past. It is not pleasing to Him to have debts rest upon His
institutions. We have reached the time when we must give character to
the work by refusing to erect large and costly buildings. We are not
to copy the mistakes of the past and become more and more involved
in debt. We are rather to endeavor to clear off the indebtedness that
still remains on our institutions. Our churches can help in this matter
if they will. Those members to whom the Lord has given means can
invest their money in the cause without interest or at a low rate of
interest, and by their freewill offerings they can help to support the
work. The Lord asks you to return cheerfully to Him a portion of the
goods He has lent you, and thus become His almoners.—
Testimonies
for the Church 9:71
.
Economy in Little Things—Let the proper estimate be placed
upon the publications, and then let all in our offices study to economize
in every possible way, even though considerable inconvenience is
caused in consequence. Stop every leak. Mind the little things. It is
the little losses that tell heavily in the end. Look after the littles, gather
up the fragments, that nothing be lost; for many who look after the
larger matters have never learned to guard and save the trifles. Waste
not the minutes, for they mar the hours. Persevering diligence, work
done in faith, will always be crowned with success. Some men think it
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beneath their dignity to look after small things. They consider it the
evidence of a narrow mind and small spirit to be careful of the littles.
Watch the little outgoes; save the little incomes. The smallest leak has
sunk many a ship. No derision or jesting should keep us from saving
the littles. Nothing that would serve the purpose should be left to go to
waste. A lack of economy will bring debt upon our institutions. Much
money may be received, but it will be lost in the little wastes of every
branch of the work. Economy is not stinginess.
Every interested working man and woman employed in the office
should be a faithful sentinel, watching the littles, that nothing be
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