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Cure for Covetousness, December 4
Continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away
from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard.
Colossians 1:23
.
Only the influence of the grace of God will lead men to take their stand
on the self-denying liberal side. The cause of God must not in any case be
hindered. The message “Repent and be converted,” must go to all parts of
the world. God has freely bestowed upon us His treasures of sunshine and
shower, to cause vegetation to flourish, and He expects every believer to show
willing liberality in advancing the cause of truth. We need now to work as
we have never worked before, that the gospel, which is the power of God
unto salvation, may be proclaimed throughout the world. And those who
are converted to the truth are to be the means, through their self-sacrifice, of
keeping the treasury supplied, that there may be meat in the Lord’s house.
The Spirit of the Lord, cherished, is a sure remedy for the disease of
covetousness. Talk it, live it. Put on the whole of the gospel armor. We need
more of the spirit of prayer and more faith. The first chapter of Colossians
holds up before us our high responsibility.
Paul says, “As ye also learned of Epaphras, ...who also declared unto us
your love in the Spirit.... We also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to
pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his
will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of
the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing
in the knowledge of God” (
Colossians 1:7-10
).
We must rise to a higher and still higher spirituality. We must cease
all complaining, and cultivate the giving of thanks. We must work for the
salvation of perishing souls.
We must lay hold of the supreme Power, and close our ears to complaint
and faultfinding. Crush this inclination, and empty the soul temple of evil-
thinking. Let not one unhappy thought remain within. Souls are perishing
in their sins. Work to the glory of God.—
Letter 372, December 4, 1906
, to
Elder O. A. Olsen and Dr. D. H. Kress, working in Australia.
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