Will a Man Rob God?
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and enterprises. Subscriptions to build a church, to endow a college,
or to assist in the missionary work are looked upon as promises which
persons are under no obligation to fulfill if it is not convenient. These
promises were made under the holy impressions of the Spirit of God.
Then do not rob Him by withholding what rightfully belongs to Him.
Brethren and sisters, look over your past life and see if you have dealt
faithfully with God. Have you any unredeemed pledges? If so, resolve
that you will pay them if it is within your power.
Listen to the counsel of the Lord: “Bring ye all the tithes into the
storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now
herewith, ... if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour
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you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy
the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before
the time in the field.” “And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye
shall be a delightsome land.”
Are you not willing to accept the promises which the Lord here
makes and to put selfishness from you and begin to work earnestly
to advance His cause? Do not strengthen your hold on this world by
taking advantage of your poorer neighbor, for God’s eye is upon you;
He reads every motive and weighs you in the balances of the sanctuary.
I saw that many withhold from the cause while they live, quieting
their consciences that they will be charitable at death; they hardly
dare exercise faith and trust in God to give anything while living. But
this deathbed charity is not what Christ requires of His followers; it
cannot excuse the selfishness of the living. Those who hold fast their
property till the last moment, surrender it to death rather than to the
cause. Losses are occurring continually. Banks fail, and property is
consumed in very many ways. Many purpose to do something, but
they delay the matter, and Satan works to prevent the means from
coming into the treasury at all. It is lost before it is returned to God,
and Satan exults that it is so.
If you would do good with your means, do it at once lest Satan get
it in his hands and thus hinder the work of God. Many times, when the
Lord has opened the way for brethren to handle their means to advance
His cause, the agents of Satan have presented some enterprise by
which they were positive the brethren could double their means. They