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500
Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
served your own interest, irrespective of their great need. God cannot
bless you until you see your sin in regard to these things.
I saw that the Lord’s work has not been more sacred in your eyes
than your own business. Eternal things have not been discerned.
The Lord has sent warnings and reproofs to arouse you to a sense of
your duty by letting you know what is expected of you, but you have
not regarded these warnings. You have not realized that you were
dealing with God. You have robbed God and served yourselves.
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There are many who in good faith have sent in to the office
means which they had to make a sacrifice to obtain. Some, both
men and women, have worked very hard, and consecrated to the
Lord the means obtained by hard labor and the closest economy,
and have sent it to the office to advance the cause. Poor widows
have sent nearly their whole dependence, trusting in God to take
care of them, and the means has been consecrated with prayers and
tears, yet sent with joyfulness, they feeling that they were aiding in
the great work of saving souls. Poor families have sold their only
cow, denying themselves and their little children of milk, feeling that
they were making a sacrifice for God. They have put their means
into the office in good faith. Selfishness and mismanagement have
helped to squander this means. God holds those accountable who
have had the handling of it. “Give an account of thy stewardship,”
will soon be heard. May the Lord help you to free yourselves from
every blemish.
Battle Creek, Michigan,
January 17, 1870.
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