Unity of Faith
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toward another according to Christ Jesus: that ye may with one mind
and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 2:2
: “Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the
same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”
All the people of God should have an interest in His cause. There
has been a lack of this interest among the brethren in Wisconsin. There
has also been a lack of energy. Some think it no sin to idle away their
time, while others who love the precious cause of truth, economize
their time, and in the strength of God exert themselves and labor hard
that their families may be made neat and comfortable, and they have
something besides to invest in the cause, that they may do their part to
keep the work of God moving and lay up a treasure in heaven. One
is not to be eased and others burdened. God requires those who have
health and strength of body, to do what they can, and use their strength
to His glory, for they are not their own. They are accountable to God
for the use they make of their time and strength, which are granted
them of Heaven.
The duty to help in the advancement of truth does not rest only
upon the wealthy. All have a part to act. The man who has employed
his time and strength to accumulate property is accountable for the
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disposition he makes of that property. If one has health and strength,
that is his capital, and he must make a right use of it. If he spends hours
in idleness and needless visiting and talking, he is slothful in business,
which God’s word forbids. Such have a work to do to provide for their
own families, and then lay by them in store for charitable purposes as
God has prospered them.
We are not placed in this world merely to care for ourselves, but
we are required to aid in the great work of salvation, thus imitating
the self-denying, self-sacrificing, useful life of Christ. Those who
love their own ease better than they love the truth of God, will not be
anxious to use their time and strength wisely and well, that they may
act a part in spreading the truth. Many of the young in Wisconsin have
not felt the weight of the cause or the necessity of their making any
sacrifice to advance it. They can never gain strength until they change
their course and make special efforts to advance the truth, that souls
may be saved. Some deny themselves and manifest an interest and
have double labor, because of their untiring efforts to sustain the cause