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85
himself; but by many murmuring, jealous ones even this has been
interpreted that he wished to be personally benefited by the means of
his brethren and that he had enriched himself at the expense of the
cause of God; when the facts in the case are that God has entrusted
means in his hands to raise him above want so that he need not be
dependent upon the mercies of a changeable, murmuring, jealous
people. Because we have not selfishly studied our own interest, but
have cared for the widow and the fatherless, God has in His providence
worked in our behalf and blessed us with prosperity and an abundance.
Moses sacrificed a prospective kingdom, a life of worldly honor
and luxury in kingly courts, choosing rather to suffer affliction with
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the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, for
he esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than all the treasures
of Egypt. Had we chosen a life of ease and freedom from labor and
care we might have done so. But this was not our choice. We chose
active labor in the cause of God, an itinerant life, with all its hardships,
privations, and exposure, to a life of indolence. We have not lived for
ourselves, to please ourselves, but we have tried to live for God, to
please and glorify Him. We have not made it an object to labor for
property; but God has fulfilled His promise in giving us a hundredfold
in this life. He may prove us by removing it from us. If so, we pray
for submission to humbly bear the test.
While He has committed to our trust talents of money and influence,
we will try to invest them in His cause, that should fires consume and
adversity diminish, we can have the pleasure of knowing that some of
our treasure is where fires cannot consume or adversity sweep away.
The cause of God is a sure bank that can never fail, and the investment
of our time, our interest, and our means in it is a treasure in the heavens
that faileth not.
I was shown that my husband has had threefold the care he should
have had. He has felt tried that Brethren R and S did not help him
bear his responsibilities, and has felt grieved because they did not help
him in the business matters in connection with the Institute and the
Publishing Association. There has been a continual advancement in
the work of publishing ever since the unfaithful were separated from
it. And as the work increased, there should have been men to share
the responsibilities; but some who could have done this had no desire,