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Testimonies for the Church Volume 4
enterprise of Christianity. If you desire a treasure in heaven you should
be securing it while you have the opportunity. If you feel safer to apply
your means toward the greater accumulation of earthly riches, and to
invest sparingly in the cause of God, then you should feel satisfied to
receive heavenly treasure according to your investment in heavenly
stock.
You desire to see the cause of God progress, but you make little
personal effort toward that end. If you, and others who profess our
holy faith, could see your true position and realize your accountability
to God you would become more earnest colaborers with Jesus. “Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and
with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.” There can be no divided
interest in this, for the whole heart and mind and strength comprise
the entire man.
Says the apostle: “Ye are not your own; for ye are bought with a
price.” When the poor, condemned sinner was lying under the curse
of the Father’s law, Jesus so loved him that He gave Himself for the
transgressor. He redeemed him by the virtue of His blood. We cannot
estimate the precious ransom paid to redeem fallen man. The heart’s
best and holiest affections should be given in return for such wondrous
love. The temporal gifts you enjoy are merely lent you to aid in the
advancement of the kingdom of God.
I speak of the tithing system, yet how meager it looks to my mind!
How small the estimate! How vain the endeavor to measure with
mathematical rules, time, money, and love against a love and sacrifice
that is measureless and incomputable! Tithes for Christ! Oh, meager
pittance, shameful recompense for that which cost so much! From
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the cross of Calvary, Christ calls for an unconditional surrender. He
promised the young ruler that if he sold all that he had and gave it
to the poor, and lifted His cross and followed Him, he should have
treasure in heaven. All we have should be consecrated to God. The
Majesty of heaven came to the world to die a sacrifice for the sins of
man. And how cold and selfish is the human heart that can turn away
from such incomparable love and set itself upon the vain things of this
world.
When selfishness is striving for the victory over you, bear in mind
One who left the glorious courts of heaven and laid aside the robes
of royalty for your sakes, becoming poor that through His poverty