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Testimonies for the Church Volume 3
In the teachings of Christ He said: “If therefore ye have not been
faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust
the true riches?” The spiritual health and prosperity of the church is
dependent in a great degree upon her systematic benevolence. It is
like the lifeblood which must flow through the whole being, vitalizing
every member of the body. It increases love for the souls of our fellow
men; for by self-denial and self-sacrifice we are brought into a closer
relation to Christ, who for our sakes became poor. The more we invest
in the cause of God to aid in the salvation of souls, the closer to our
hearts will they be brought. Were our numbers half as large, and all
of these devoted workers, we should have a power that would make
the world tremble. To the active workers Christ has addressed these
words: “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”
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We shall meet opposition arising from selfish motives and from
bigotry and prejudice; yet, with undaunted courage and living faith,
we should sow beside all waters. The agents of Satan are formidable;
we shall meet them and must combat them. Our labors are not to be
confined to our own country. The field is the world; the harvest is
ripe. The command given by Christ to the disciples just before He
ascended was: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to
every creature.”
We feel pained beyond measure to see some of our ministers hov-
ering about the churches, apparently putting forth some little effort,
but having next to nothing to show for their labors. The field is the
world. Let them go out into the unbelieving world and labor to convert
souls to the truth. We refer our brethren and sisters to the example
of Abraham going up to Mount Moriah to offer his only son at the
command of God. Here was obedience and sacrifice. Moses was in
kingly courts, and a prospective crown was before him. But he turned
away from the tempting bribe, and “refused to be called the son of
Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people
of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the
reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt.”
The apostles counted not their lives dear unto themselves, rejoicing
that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Christ.
Paul and Silas suffered the loss of all things. They suffered scourging,
and were in no gentle manner thrown upon the cold floor of a dungeon
in a most painful position, their feet elevated and fastened in the stocks.