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cause of God; they may be no more true and loyal, their sympathies
no deeper, their love no warmer; yet because of their gentleness and
tact they are far more successful in winning back the erring.
The Lord would be pleased to have His people more considerate
than they now are, more merciful and more helpful to one another.
When the love of Christ is in the heart, each will be tenderly regardful
of the interests of others. Brother will not take advantage of brother
in business transactions. One will not charge exorbitant interest be-
cause he sees his brother in a close place where he must have help.
Those who will take advantage of the necessities of another prove
conclusively that they are not governed by the principles of the gospel
of Christ. Their course is recorded in the books of heaven as fraud
and dishonesty; and wherever these principles rule, the blessing of
the Lord will not come into the heart. Such persons are receiving the
impress of the great adversary rather than that of the Spirit of God.
But those who shall finally inherit the heavenly kingdom must be
transformed by divine grace. They must be pure in heart and life and
possess symmetrical characters.
I regard you, my brother, as in great peril. Your treasure is laid
up on the earth, and your heart is upon your treasure. But all the
means you may accumulate, even though it should be millions, will
not be sufficient to pay a ransom for your soul. Then do not remain
in impenitence and unbelief, and in your case defeat the gracious
purposes of God; do not force from His reluctant hand destruction of
your property or affliction of your person.
How many there are who are now taking a course which must
erelong lead to just such visitations of judgment. They live on day by
day, week by week, year by year, for their own selfish interest. Their
influence and means, accumulated through God-given skill and tact,
are used upon themselves and their families without thought of their
gracious Benefactor. Nothing is allowed to flow back to the Giver.
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Indeed, they come to regard life and its entrusted talents as their own;
and if they render back to God that portion which He justly claims,
they think that they have placed their Creator under obligation to them.
At last His patience with these unfaithful stewards is exhausted; and
He brings all their selfish, worldly schemes to an abrupt termination,
showing them that as they have gathered for their own glory, He can
scatter; and they are helpless to resist His power.