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the possessor breaks away from his riches and transfers his affections
to God. Through love he is then led to minister to the wants of God’s
cause. It is his highest pleasure to make a right disposition of his
Lord’s goods. Love to God and his fellow men predominates, and he
holds all that he has as not his own, and faithfully discharges his duty
as God’s steward. Then can he keep both the great commandments of
the law: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as
thyself.” In this way it is possible for a rich man to enter the kingdom of
God. “And everyone that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters,
or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name’s sake,
shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But
many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.”
Here is the reward for those who sacrifice for God. They receive a
hundredfold in this life, and shall inherit everlasting life. “But many
that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.” I was shown those
who receive the truth, but do not live it. They cling to their possessions,
and are not willing to distribute of their substance to advance the cause
of God. They have not faith to venture and trust God. Their love of
this world swallows up their faith. God calls for a portion of their
substance, but they heed it not. They reason that they have labored
hard to obtain what they have, and they cannot lend it to the Lord, for
they may come to want. “O ye of little faith.” That God who cared for
Elijah in the time of famine, will not pass by one of His self-sacrificing
children. He who has numbered the hairs of their head, will care for
them, and in days of famine they will be satisfied. While the wicked
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are perishing all around them for want of bread, their bread and water
will be sure. Those who still cling to their earthly treasure, and will
not make a right disposition of that which is lent them of God, will
lose their treasure in heaven, lose everlasting life.
God in His providence has moved upon the hearts of some of those
who have riches, and has converted them to the truth, that they with
their substance may assist to keep His work moving. And if those who
are wealthy will not do this, if they do not fulfill the purpose of God,
He will pass them by, and raise up others to fill their place who will
fulfill His purpose, and with their possessions gladly distribute to meet
the necessities of the cause of God. In this they will be first. God will
have those in His cause who will do this.