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Counsels on Stewardship
to the man who has not taxed the physical powers which have been lent
him of God as precious talents by which to gather means, wherewith
the needy may be supplied, and offerings may be made to God.
The rich are not to feel that they can be content in giving of their
money merely. They have talents of ability, and they are to study to
show themselves approved unto God, to be earnest spiritual agents in
educating and training their children for fields of usefulness. Parents
and children are not to regard themselves as their own, and feel that
they can dispose of their time and property as shall please themselves.
They are God’s purchased possession, and the Lord calls for the profit
of their physical powers, which are to be employed in bringing a
revenue to the treasury of the Lord.
Self-Denial and the Cross
Were the thousand channels of selfishness cut off that now exist,
and the means directed in the right channel, there would be a large rev-
enue flowing into the treasury. Many purchase idols with money that
should go to the house of God. No one can practice real benevolence
without practicing genuine self-denial. Self-denial and the cross lie
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directly in the path of every Christian who is truly following Christ.
Jesus says: “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and
take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Will every soul consider the
fact that Christian discipleship includes self-denial, self-sacrifice, even
to the laying down of life itself, if need be, for the sake of Him who
has given His life for the life of the world?
Christians who view Christ upon the cross, are bound by their
obligation to God because of the infinite gift of His Son, to withhold
nothing which they possess, however dear it may be to them. If they
possess anything that can be employed to draw any soul, no matter
how rich, or no matter how poor, to the Lamb of God who taketh away
the sins of the world, they are to use it freely for this purpose. The
Lord employs human agents to be coworkers with Him in the salvation
of sinners.
All heaven is actively engaged in furnishing facilities by which to
extend the knowledge of the truth to all peoples, nations, and tongues.
If those who profess to have been truly converted, do not let their light