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The Retirement Years
The husband who transfers his property to his wife, opens for her
a wide door of temptation, whether she is a believer or an unbeliever.
If she is a believer, and naturally penurious, inclined to selfishness
and acquisitiveness, the battle will be much harder for her with her
husband’s stewardship and her own to manage. In order to be saved,
she must overcome all those peculiar, evil traits, and imitate the char-
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acter of her divine Lord, seeking opportunity to do others good, loving
others as Christ has loved us. She should cultivate the precious gift of
love possessed so largely by our Saviour. His life was characterized
by noble, disinterested benevolence. His whole life was not marred by
one selfish act.—
Testimonies for the Church 1:528, 529
.
Dying Charity Versus Living Benevolence
I saw that many withhold from the cause while they live, quieting
their consciences that they will be charitable at death; they hardly
dare exercise faith and trust in God to give anything while living. But
this deathbed charity is not what Christ requires of His followers; it
cannot excuse the selfishness of the living. Those who hold fast their
property till the last moment, surrender it to death rather than to the
cause. Losses are occurring continually. Banks fail, and property is
consumed in very many ways. Many purpose to do something, but
they delay the matter, and Satan works to prevent the means from
coming into the treasury at all. It is lost before it is returned to God,
and Satan exults that it is so.
If you would do good with your means, do it at once lest Satan get
it in his hands and thus hinder the work of God. Many times, when the
Lord has opened the way for brethren to handle their means to advance
His cause, the agents of Satan have presented some enterprise by
which they were positive the brethren could double their means. They
take the bait; their money is invested, and the cause, and frequently
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themselves, never receive a dollar.
Brethren, remember the cause; and when you have means at your
command lay up for yourselves a good foundation against the time
to come, that you may lay hold on eternal life. Jesus for your sakes
became poor, that you through His poverty might be made rich in
heavenly treasure. What will you give for Jesus, who has given all for
you?