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Deceitfulness of Riches
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them should realize that their obligations and responsibilities are
increased.
The Master will require each of His stewards to give an account
of his stewardship, to show what he has gained with the talents
entrusted to him. Those to whom rewards are given will impute no
merit to themselves for their diligent trading; they will give all the
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glory to God. They speak of that which was delivered to them, as
“Thy pound,” not their own. When they speak of their gain, they
are careful to state whence it came. The capital was advanced by
the Master. They have traded upon it successfully, and return the
principal and interest to the Giver. He rewards their efforts as if the
merit belonged to them, when they owe all to the grace and mercy
of the bountiful Giver. His words of unqualified approval fall upon
their ears: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast
been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many
things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
To you, my sister, are committed talents of influence and talents
of money; and your responsibility is great. You should move cau-
tiously and in the fear of God. Your wisdom is weakness, but the
wisdom from above is strong. The Lord designs to enlighten your
darkness and again give you a glimpse of the heavenly treasure, that
you may have some sense of the comparative value of both worlds,
and then leave you to choose between this world and the eternal
inheritance. I saw that there was yet opportunity to return to the
fold. Jesus has redeemed you by His own blood, and He requires
you to employ your talents in His service. You have not become
hardened to the influence of the Holy Spirit. When the truth of God
is presented, it meets a response in your heart.
I saw that you should study every move. You should do nothing
rashly. Let God be your counselor. He loves your children, and it
is right that you should love them; but it is not right to give them
the place in your affections that the Lord claims. They have kind
impulses and generous purposes. They possess noble traits of char-
acter. If they would only see their need of a Saviour, and bow at the
foot of the cross, they might exert an influence for good. They are
now lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. They now stand in
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the enemy’s ranks, under the black banner of Satan. Jesus invites