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Counsels on Health
outlay would give character to the work. But this plea is no excuse for
unnecessary expenditure.
God desires that the humble, meek, and lowly spirit of the Master,
who is the Majesty of heaven, the King of glory, shall ever be revealed
in our institutions. Christ’s first advent is not studied as it should be.
He came to be our example in all things. His life was one of strict
self-denial. If we follow His example, we shall never expend means
unnecessarily. Never are we to seek for outward show. Let our showing
be such that the light of truth can shine through our good works, so
that God will be glorified by the use of the very best methods to restore
the sick and to relieve the suffering. Character is given to the work,
not by investing means in large buildings, but by maintaining the true
standard of religious principles, with noble Christlikeness of character.
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The mistakes that have been made in the erection of buildings
in the past should be salutary admonitions to us in the future. We
are to observe where others have failed and, instead of copying their
mistakes, make improvements. In all our advance work we must regard
the necessity of economy. There must be no needless expense. The
Lord is soon to come, and our outlay in buildings is to be in harmony
with our faith. Our means is to be used in providing cheerful rooms,
healthful surroundings, and wholesome food.
Our ideas of building and furnishing our institutions are to be
molded and fashioned by a true, practical knowledge of what it means
to walk humbly with God. Never should it be thought necessary to
give an appearance of wealth. Never should appearance be depended
on as a means of success. This is a delusion. The desire to make
an appearance that is not in every way appropriate to the work that
God has given us to do, an appearance that could be kept up only by
expending a large sum of money, is a merciless tyrant. It is like a
canker that is ever eating into the vitals.
Comfort More Important Than Elegance
Men of common sense appreciate comfort above elegance and
display. It is a mistake to suppose that by keeping up an appearance,
more patients, and therefore more means, would be gained. But even if
this course would bring an increase of patronage, we could not consent
to have our sanitariums furnished according to the luxurious ideas of