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than his Lord? Shall the world’s Redeemer practice self-denial and
sacrifice on our account, and the members of Christ’s body practice
self-indulgence? Self-denial is an essential condition of discipleship.
“Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after
Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” I
lead the way in the path of self-denial. I require nothing of you, My
followers, but that of which I, your Lord, give you an example in My
own life.
The Saviour of the world conquered Satan in the wilderness of
temptation. He overcame to show man how he may overcome. He
announced in the synagogue of Nazareth: “The Spirit of the Lord is
upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the
poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance
to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty
them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”
The great work which Jesus announced that He came to do was
entrusted to His followers upon the earth. Christ, as our head, leads
out in the great work of salvation and bids us follow His example. He
has given us a world-wide message. This truth must be extended to
all nations, tongues, and people. Satan’s power was to be contested,
and he was to be overcome by Christ and also by His followers. An
extensive war was to be maintained against the powers of darkness.
And in order to do this work successfully, means were required. God
does not propose to send means direct from heaven, but He gives into
the hands of His followers talents of means to use for the very purpose
of sustaining this warfare.
He has given His people a plan for raising sums sufficient to make
the enterprise self-sustaining. God’s plan in the tithing system is
beautiful in its simplicity and equality. All may take hold of it in faith
and courage, for it is divine in its origin. In it are combined simplicity
and utility, and it does not require depth of learning to understand and
execute it. All may feel that they can act a part in carrying forward
the precious work of salvation. Every man, woman, and youth may
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become a treasurer for the Lord and may be an agent to meet the
demands upon the treasury. Says the apostle: “Let every one of you
lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him.”
Great objects are accomplished by this system. If one and all
would accept it, each would be made a vigilant and faithful treasurer