Not Among the Wealthy
[
Testimonies for the Church 7:88, 89
(1902).]
It might seem to us that it would be best to select for our sanitariums
places among the wealthy, that this would give character to our work
and secure patronage for our institutions. But in this there is no light.
“The Lord seeth not as man seeth.”
1 Samuel 16:7
. Man looks at the
outward appearance; God looks at the heart. The fewer grand buildings
there are around our institutions, the less vexation we shall experience.
Many of the wealthy property owners are irreligious and irreverent.
Worldly thoughts fill their minds. Worldly amusements, merriment,
and hilarity occupy their time. Extravagance in dress and luxurious
living absorb their means. The heavenly messengers are not welcomed
to their homes. They want God afar off.
Humility is a difficult lesson for humanity to learn, and it is espe-
cially difficult for the rich and the self-indulgent. Those who do not
regard themselves as accountable to God for all that they possess are
tempted to exalt self, as if the riches comprehended by lands and bank
stock made them independent of God. Full of pride and conceit, they
place on themselves an estimate measured by their wealth.
There are many rich men who in God’s sight are unfaithful stew-
ards. In their acquirement and use of means, He has seen robbery.
They have neglected the great Proprietor of all and have not used the
means entrusted to them to relieve the suffering and the oppressed.
They have been laying up for themselves wrath against the day of
wrath, for God will reward every man according as his work shall be.
These men do not worship God; self is their idol. They put justice and
mercy out of the mind, replacing them with avarice and strife. God
[270]
says, “Shall I not visit them for these things?”
Jeremiah 9:9
.
God would not be pleased to have any of our institutions located in
a community of this character, however great its apparent advantages.
Selfish, wealthy men have a molding influence upon other minds, and
the enemy would work through them to hedge up our way. Evil associ-
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