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Testimonies for the Church Volume 7
places that are in just as great need of money for the erection of needful
buildings. Time is short, and while buildings must be erected, let this
be done with due consideration for all parts of the Lord’s vineyard. Let
the one who has charge of the building be a man of sound, sanctified
mind, not one who, in his anxiety to erect a fine piece of architecture,
will bring perplexity upon the work by expensive investment.
God is not the author of confusion, but of order and progress. Let
those who desire to advance His kingdom make haste slowly and build
intelligently. Let no one rush on with a stumbling supposition that
means must be invested to make a display. Thus saith the Lord: Means
must not be so expended, for it is at the expense of souls.”
The result of selfish management stands before us today as a rep-
resentation of the wisdom of men whose minds and hearts needed the
guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Lord has many ways of trying and
proving those who claim to be Christians. With unmistakable accuracy
He has traced the results of human wisdom, showing those who have
thought they were doing great things that they need to review the past;
that they need to see that they were not actuated by the Holy Spirit,
but that in many things they refused the counsel of the Lord. Had
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they taken up this self-examination at the beginning of their work,
as the Lord directed them to do, years of God-dishonoring service
would have been changed into a service of love. Every heart in every
household needs to take up the work of self-examination, else some
will find, as did Saul, that they are appointed to destruction. Especially
is this applicable to men in positions of responsibility. Saith the Lord:
“I will not serve with any selfish devising.” Everyone needs now to
seek the Lord. God’s people will not endure the test unless there is a
revival and a reformation. The Lord will not admit into the mansions
He is preparing for the righteous, one soul who is self-sufficient.
* * * * *
Under no circumstances should our people in any land put all their
means into one great, expensive medical institution. To bring together
a large number of people in one place is not favorable to the securing
of the best results in physical or in spiritual restoration. And besides
this, to establish such an institution would be to rob other places where
health institutions should be established. Wherever we work, some