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We Are Not to Glory in Riches, August 15
Let not the rich man glory in his riches.
Jeremiah 9:23
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The rich man is not to glory in his riches. If we fix our affections
on worldly things, we fail to exalt Christ. Satan would keep our minds
absorbed with the things of this life, that we may lose sight of the higher
life; but we cannot afford to yield to his devices. Christ is the source of
all temporal, as well as all spiritual blessings. If he has given us riches,
it is not that we may claim them as our own. “Lay not up for yourselves
treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves
break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven....”
Paul counted all things but loss that he might win Christ. But when the
Saviour calls for our possessions and our service, there are many who see
they cannot obey God and carry their earthly treasures with them, and they
decide to stay by their treasures....
How can those who expect to stand around Christ’s throne, and to be
clothed with His righteousness, distrust God, and fear that He will leave
them to come to want? Where is their faith? Our heavenly Father feeds
the ravens, and will He not much more feed us? ... If we had a right view
of Christ, we would permit nothing to interpose between ourselves and
Him.... Those who study to see how near they can live to the world and
yet gain heaven, will come just near enough to be shut out from heaven.
We must accept the suffering part of religion if we would sit down with
the Suffering One upon His throne
While it is lawful for us to acquire means, the money that we possess
should be regarded as ours only in trust, not to be squandered, but spent in
the Lord’s service. It should be our determined purpose to obey the orders
of our Captain, and thus lay up for ourselves heavenly riches. Then, when
everything in this world perishes, we shall have a treasure in the heavens,
which faileth not
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29
The Review and Herald, March 15, 1887
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30
Manuscript 29, 1886
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