448
Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
guilty man in degradation. He bore the sins of man in His own body.
“He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might
be made the righteousness of God in Him.”
True generosity is too frequently destroyed by prosperity and
riches. Men and women in adversity or in humble poverty will some-
times express very great love for the truth and special interest for the
prosperity of the cause of God and for the salvation of their fellow
men, and will tell what they would do if they only had the means. God
frequently proves these; He prospers them, blesses them in basket and
in store, far beyond their expectations. But their hearts are deceitful.
Their good intentions and promises are like the rolling sand. The more
they have the more they desire. The more they are prospered the more
[483]
eager are they for gain. Some of these, who in their poverty were once
even benevolent, become penurious and exacting. Money becomes
their god. They delight in the power which money gives them, in the
honor they receive because of it. Said the angel: “Mark ye how they
stand the test. Watch the development of character under the influence
of riches.” Some were oppressing the needy poor and would obtain
their services for the lowest figure. They were overbearing; money
was power to them. God’s eye, I saw, was upon them. They were
deceived. “And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me,
to give every man according as his work shall be.”
Some who are wealthy do not withhold from ministers. They keep
up their systematic benevolence exactly and pride themselves upon
their punctuality and generosity, and think their duty ends here. This
is well as far as it goes, but their duty does not cease here. God has
claims upon them that they do not realize. Society has claims upon
them; their fellow men have claims upon them. Every member of their
family has claims upon them. All these claims should be regarded; not
one should be overlooked or neglected. Some men give to ministers
and put into the treasury with as much satisfaction as though it would
entitle them to heaven. Some think that they can do nothing to aid
the cause of God unless they constantly have a large increase. They
feel that they can in nowise touch the principal. Should our Saviour
speak the same words to them that He did to the certain ruler, “Go and
sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure
in heaven: and come and follow Me,” they would go away sorrowful,
choosing like him to run the risk of retaining their idols, riches, rather