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Testimonies for the Church Volume 3
for God, and there would be no want of means with which to carry
forward the great work of sounding the last message of warning to
the world. The treasury will be full if all adopt this system, and the
contributors will not be left the poorer. Through every investment
made they will become more wedded to the cause of present truth.
They will be “laying up in store for themselves a good foundation
against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”
As the persevering, systematic workers see that the tendency of
their benevolent efforts is to nourish love to God and their fellow men,
and that their personal efforts are extending their sphere of usefulness,
they will realize that it is a great blessing to be co-workers with Christ.
The Christian church, as a general thing, are disowning the claims of
God upon them to give alms of the things which they possess to support
the warfare against the moral darkness which is flooding the world.
Never can the work of God advance as it should until the followers of
Christ become active, zealous workers.
Every individual in the church should feel that the truth which he
professes is a reality, and all should be disinterested workers. Some
rich men feel like murmuring because the work of God is extending
and there is a demand for money. They say that there is no end to
the calls for means. One object after another is continually arising,
demanding help. To such we would say that we hope the cause of God
will so extend that there will be greater occasion, and more frequent
and urgent calls, for supplies from the treasury to prosecute the work.
If the plan of systematic benevolence were adopted by every indi-
vidual and fully carried out, there would be a constant supply in the
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treasury. The income would flow in like a steady stream constantly
supplied by overflowing springs of benevolence. Almsgiving is a part
of gospel religion. Does not the consideration of the infinite price paid
for our redemption leave upon us solemn obligations pecuniarily, as
well as lay claim upon all our powers to be devoted to the work of the
Master?
We shall have a debt to settle with the Master by and by, when He
shall say: “Give an account of thy stewardship.” If men prefer to set
aside the claims of God and to grasp and selfishly retain all that He
gives them, He will hold His peace at present and continue frequently
to test them by increasing His bounties by letting His blessings flow
on, and these men may pass on receiving honor of men and without