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Counsels on Stewardship
The husband who transfers his property to his wife, opens for her
a wide door of temptation, whether she is a believer or an unbeliever.
If she is a believer, and naturally penurious, inclined to selfishness
and acquisitiveness, the battle will be much harder for her with her
husband’s stewardship and her own to manage. In order to be saved,
she must overcome all those peculiar, evil traits, and imitate the char-
acter of her divine Lord, seeking opportunity to do others good, loving
others as Christ has loved us. She should cultivate the precious gift of
love possessed so largely by our Saviour. His life was characterized
by noble, disinterested benevolence. His whole life was not marred by
one selfish act.
Whatever the motives of the husband, he has placed a terrible stum-
bling block in his wife’s way, to hinder her in the work of overcoming.
And if the transfer be made to the children, the same evil results may
follow. God reads his motives. If he is selfish, and has made the
transfer to conceal his covetousness, and excuse himself from doing
anything to advance the cause, the curse of Heaven will surely follow.
God reads the purposes and intents of the hearts, and tries the
motives of the children of men. His signal, visible displeasure may not
be manifested as in the case of Ananias and Sapphira, yet in the end
the punishment will in no case be lighter than that which was inflicted
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upon them. In trying to deceive men, they were lying to God. “The
soul that sinneth, it shall die.” ...
Those who flatter themselves that they can shift their responsibility
upon wife or children, are deceived by the enemy. A transfer of
property will not lessen their responsibility. They are accountable for
the means which Heaven has entrusted to their care, and in no way
can they excuse themselves from this responsibility, until they are
released by rendering back to God that which He has committed to
them.—
Testimonies for the Church 1:528-530
.