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Testimonies for the Church Volume 4
How hard it is for human nature to deny inclination; how hard for
men to leave flattering worldly inducements and, through love of their
Saviour and their fellow men, to deny their own pleasure in order to
engage more directly in the service of God.
Brother C, you do not enter heart and soul into the work. You have
never made it a direct personal interest, and it is not agreeable to you.
Had you been so disposed you could have trained your mind to better
understand the work; but you have, in a measure, held aloof from it;
you have not connected yourself closely with it and tried to become
familiar with its various branches.
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You are not as social and courteous as you should be, and your
cold, unapproachable manner is not pleasing to God. You allow your
feelings to be easily excited. No man can properly fill a position in
connection with the work of God who is controlled by feeling and
moves from impulse. Your mind must come in closer connection with
God, and in sympathy and interest you must be more closely identified
with those who are engaged in His work, or you can be of no use in
advancing the cause in-----. You are too independent and exclusive;
you need to soften and assimilate your disposition to the mind and
feelings of others. You can, as a businessman and as a Christian, do
much valuable service for the cause of God if you will only surrender
your will and your way to the Lord. You need to be sanctified by the
truth, having your mind elevated above every personal consideration
and every selfish interest.
I point you to the life of Jesus as a perfect pattern. His life was
characterized by disinterested benevolence. Precious Saviour! What
sacrifices has He made for us that we should not perish, but have
everlasting life! Heaven will be cheap enough if we resign every
selfish interest to obtain it. Can we afford to have our own way, and
take ourselves out of the hands of God, because it is more pleasing
to the natural heart? God requires perfect submission and perfect
obedience. Eternal life is worth everything to us. You may come in
close connection with God if you will agonize to enter in at the strait
gate.
You could never be aware of your deficiencies unless you were
brought where these deficiencies were developed by circumstances.
You have not felt as you should since you have come to-----. You
have not entered freely and heartily into the work and made it your