Chapter 10—Importance of Economy
Practicing Economy in Institutions—Our institutions were es-
tablished to serve as an effectual means of advancing the work of soul
saving. Those connected with them are to study how they can help the
institution, not how they can take the most out of the treasury. If they
grasp more than is their due, they hinder the cause of God. Let every-
one connected with these institutions say, “I will not set my wages at a
high figure, because that would rob the treasury, and the proclamation
of the message of mercy will be hindered. I must practice economy.
Those who are out in the field are doing a work that is as essential as
the work that I am doing. I must do all in my power to help them. It
is God’s means that I am handling, and I will do as Christ would do
in my place. I will not spend money for luxuries. I will remember
the Lord’s workers in mission fields. They have more need of means
than I have. In their work they come in contact with much poverty and
distress. They must feed the hungry and clothe the naked. I must limit
my expenditures, that I may share in their labor of love.”—
Manuscript
19, 1903
.
Gather Up the Fragments—Let the proper estimate be placed
upon the publications, and then let all in our publishing houses study
to economize in every possible way even though considerable incon-
venience is thus caused. Watch the little outgoes. Stop every leak. It is
the little losses that tell heavily in the end. Gather up the fragments;
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let nothing be lost. Waste not the minutes in talking; wasted minutes
mar the hours. Persevering diligence working in faith, will always be
crowned with success.
Some think it beneath their dignity to look after small things. They
think it the evidence of a narrow mind and a niggardly spirit. But small
leaks have sunk many a ship. Nothing that would serve the purpose of
any should be allowed to waste. A lack of economy will surely bring
debt upon our institutions. Although much money may be received, it
will be lost in the little wastes of every branch of the work. Economy
is not stinginess.
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