Counsel to One Who for Financial Reasons Was Planning to Leave the Work of God197
wrong. The Holy One has given rules for the guidance of all—the
standard of character from which none can swerve and be guiltless.
God’s will is to be diligently and conscientiously studied, and it must
be made paramount in all the affairs of life. The laws which every
human agent is to obey flow from the heart of infinite love.
That same Holy Watcher who says, “I know Abraham,” knew
Cornelius also, and sent His angel with a message to the man who had
received and improved all the light God had given him. The angel said,
“Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname
is Peter.” Then the specific directions are given, “He lodgeth with one
Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what
thou oughtest to do” (
Acts 10:4-6
). Thus the angel of the Lord works
to bring Cornelius in connection with the human agent through whom
he might receive greater light. Study the whole chapter carefully and
see the simplicity of the whole transaction. Then consider that the
Lord knows every one of us by name, and just where we live, and the
spirit we possess, and every act of our life. The ministering angels are
passing through the churches, noting our faithfulness in our individual
line of duty.
They take note also of our neglect of duty. Mark the case of
Ananias and Sapphira. In pretending that they had consecrated their
entire possession to God, they lied to the Holy Spirit, and as the result
of their deception they lost not only the life that now is, but that which
is to come. It is sad for anyone to handle sacred things, and yet bring
into the service their own peculiar traits of character, making God to
serve with their sins. God desires them, in their position of trust, to
exemplify the mind of Christ, but the objectionable traits of character
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are interwoven with all their work, and the sacred cause of God is
marred by their selfishness. The Lord knows whether those who carry
the burden of responsibility are faithful stewards, maintaining strict
integrity in every transaction, and placing this impress upon every
phase of their work....
Your heart is sad and grieved, but no longer deceive yourself, or
expect that men and women will value the light that God has given
them from His own holiness, until they shall open their hearts to Jesus.
“Lean on Me,” He says, “trust in Me: I will never fail you; I will be to
you a present help in every time of need.”