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Transferring Earthly Treasure
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more honorable in the courts of heaven than the most exalted kings
and nobles who are not rich toward God.
The apostle Paul exhorted Timothy to charge the rich: “Charge
them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor
trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly
all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works,
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ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for
themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they
may lay hold on eternal life.” This admonition is applicable to you,
Brother N, and to very many who profess to believe the truth for
these last days.
Those who hoard up means or invest largely in lands, while they
deprive their families of the comforts of life, act like insane men.
They do not allow their families to enjoy the things which God has
richly given them. Notwithstanding they have large possessions,
their families are frequently compelled to labor far beyond their
strength to save still more means to hoard up. Brain, bone, and
muscle are taxed to the utmost to accumulate, and religion and
Christian duties are neglected. Work, work, work, is the ambition
from morning until night.
Many do not manifest an earnest desire to learn the will of God
and to understand His claims upon them. Some who attempt to teach
the truth to others do not themselves obey the word of God. The
more such teachers the cause of God has, the less prosperous will it
be.
Many to whom God has entrusted riches do not consider that they
are working against their own eternal interest by selfishly retaining
their riches. The apostle shows them that by becoming rich in good
works they are working for themselves. They are laying up in store
for themselves, providing in heaven an enduring treasure, that they
may lay hold on eternal life. In distributing to the necessities of the
cause, and helping the needy, they are faithfully doing the work that
God has assigned them; and the memorial of their self-denial and
generous, loving acts will be written in the book of heaven. Every
deed of righteousness will be immortalized, although the doer may
not feel that he has done anything worthy of notice. If the daily walk
of those who profess the truth were a living example of the life of
Christ, a light would shine forth from them which would lead others
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