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Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
only of themselves, their pleasure and enjoyment, to the disregard
of others. They are not sanctified through the truth, therefore realize
not the oneness of Christ’s followers the world over. Those who are
most loved of God are those who possess the least self-confidence
and are adorned with a meek and quiet spirit; whose lives are pure
and unselfish, and whose hearts are inclined, through the abundant
measure of the spirit of Christ, to obedience, justice, purity, and true
holiness.
If all were devoted to God, a precious light would shine forth
from them, which would have a direct influence upon all who are
brought in contact with them. But all need a work done for them.
Some are far from God, variable and unstable as water; they have
no idea of sacrifice. When they desire any special indulgence or
pleasure, or any article of dress, they do not consider whether or not
they can do without the article, or deny themselves the pleasure, and
make a freewill offering to God. How many have considered that
they were required to make some sacrifice? Although it may be of
less value than that of the wealthy man who possesses his thousands,
yet that which really costs self-denial would be a precious sacrifice,
an offering to God. It would be a sweet-smelling savor, and come
up from his altar like sweet incense.
The youth are not authorized to do just as they please with their
means, regardless of the requirements of God. With David they
should say: “Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my
God of that which doth cost me nothing.” Quite an amount of means
has been expended to multiply copies of their pictures. Could all
enumerate the amount given to the artist for this purpose, it would
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swell to quite a large sum. And this is merely one way in which
means is squandered, invested for self-gratification, from which no
profit is received. By this outlay, they are not clothed or fed, the
widow and the fatherless are not relieved, the hungry are not fed, the
naked are not clothed.
While money is spent lavishly in self-gratification, stinted offer-
ings are brought to God almost unwillingly. How much of the wages
earned by the young finds its way into the treasury of God to aid in
the advancement of the work of saving souls? They give a mite each
week and feel that they do much. But they have no sense that they
are just as much stewards of God over their little as are the wealthy