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Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
to Him. He has entrusted His treasures to stewards, that with them
they may advance His cause and glorify His name. He did not entrust
these treasures to men that they might use them to exalt and glorify
themselves, and have power to oppress those who were poor in this
world’s treasure. God does not receive the offerings of any because
He needs them and cannot have glory and riches without them, but
because it is for the interest of His servants to render to God the
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things which are His. The freewill offerings of the humble, contrite
heart He will receive, and will reward the giver with the richest
blessings. He receives them as the sacrifice of grateful obedience.
He requires and accepts our gold and silver as an evidence that
all we have and are belongs to Him. He claims and accepts the
improvement of our time and of our talents as the fruit of His love
existing in our hearts. To obey is better than sacrifice. Without pure
love the most expensive offering is too poor for God to accept.
Many have their hearts so fixed upon their earthly treasure that
they do not discern the advantage of laying up for themselves trea-
sures in heaven. They do not realize that their freewill offerings to
God are not enriching Him, but themselves. Christ counsels us to
lay up treasures in heaven. For whom? For God, that He may be
enriched? Oh, no! The treasures of the entire world are His, and
the indescribable glory and priceless treasures of heaven are all His
own, to give to whom He will. “Lay up for yourselves treasures in
heaven.” Men whom God has made stewards are so infatuated by the
riches of this world that they do not discern that by their selfishness
and covetousness they are not only robbing the Lord in tithes and
offerings, but robbing themselves of eternal riches. They could be
daily adding to their heavenly treasure by doing the very work that
the Lord has left them to do, and which He has entrusted them with
means to carry out. The Master would have them watch for opportu-
nities to do good and, while they live, apply their means themselves
to aid in the salvation of their fellow men and in the advancement
of His cause in its various branches. In so doing they only do that
which God requires of them; they render to God the things that are
His. Many willingly close their eyes and hearts, lest they should
see and feel the wants of the Lord’s cause, and by helping in its
advancement should lessen their increase by detracting from the
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interest or the principal. Some feel that what they give to advance