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Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
much responsibility. He should counsel with his brethren who are
discreet and faithful.
Brother L is a steward of God. He has been entrusted with means
and should be awake to his duty and render to God the things that
are God’s. He should not fail to understand the claims that God
has upon him. While he lives, and has his reasoning powers, he
should improve the opportunity of appropriating the property that
God has entrusted to him, instead of leaving it for others to use and
appropriate after the close of his life.
Satan is ever ready to take advantage of the weaknesses and
infirmities of men to suit his own purposes. He is a wily adversary,
and has outgeneraled many whose purposes were good to benefit
the cause of God with their means. Some have neglected the work
that God has given them to do in appropriating their means. And
while they are negligent in securing to the cause of God the means
that He has lent them, Satan comes in and turns that means into his
own ranks.
Brother L should move more cautiously. Men who are not of
our faith obtain means of him upon various pretenses. He trusts
them, believing them to be honest. It will be impossible for him
to get back all the means he has let slip out of his hands into the
enemy’s ranks. He could make a safe investment of his means by
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aiding the cause of God and thus laying up for himself treasures in
heaven. Frequently he is unable to help when he would because
he is crippled and cannot command the means to do so. When the
Lord calls for his means, it is frequently in the hands of those to
whom he has lent it, some of whom never design to pay, and others
feel no anxiety in the matter. Satan will accomplish his purpose as
thoroughly through dishonest borrowers as in any other way. All
that the adversary of truth and righteousness is working for is to
prevent the advancement of our Redeemer’s kingdom. He works
through agents to carry out his purposes. If he can prevent means
from going into the treasury of God he is successful in one branch
of his work. That means which should have been used to aid in the
great plan of saving souls he has retained in his ranks to aid him in
his work.
Brother L should have his business all straight and not left at
loose ends. It is his privilege to be rich in good works, and to lay up