Lord’s Work to Be Maintained
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who receives, but never gives, soon ceases to receive. If the truth does
not flow from him to others, he loses his capacity to receive. We must
impart the goods of heaven, if we would receive fresh blessing.
The Lord does not propose to come to this world, and lay down
gold and silver for the advancement of His work. He supplies men
with resources, that by their gifts and offerings they may keep His
work advancing. The one purpose above all others for which God’s
gifts should be used is the sustaining of workers in the harvest field.
And if men will become channels through which heaven’s blessing
can flow to others, the Lord will keep the channel supplied. It is not
returning to the Lord His own that makes men poor; withholding tends
to poverty....
A Time for Economy and Sacrifice
God calls upon His people to awake to their responsibilities. A
flood of light is shining from His word, and there must be a meeting of
neglected obligations. When these are met, by giving to the Lord His
own in tithes and offerings, the way will be opened for the world to
hear the message that the Lord designs it to hear. If our people had the
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love of God in the heart, if every church member were imbued with
the spirit of self-sacrifice, there would be no lack of funds for home
and foreign missions; our resources would be multiplied; a thousand
doors of usefulness would be opened; and we should be invited to
enter. Had the purpose of God been carried out in giving the message
of mercy to the world, Christ would have come, and the saints would
have received their welcome into the city of God.
If ever there was a time when sacrifices should be made, it is
now. My brethren and sisters, practice economy in your homes. Put
away the idols that you have placed before God. Give up your selfish
pleasures. Do not, I beg of you, spend means in embellishing your
houses; for your money belongs to God, and to Him you must give an
account for its use. Do not use the Lord’s money to gratify the fancies
of your children. Teach them that God has a claim on all they possess,
and that nothing can ever cancel this claim.
Money is a needed treasure. Do not lavish it upon those who need
it not. Someone needs your willing gifts. There are those in the world
who are hungry, starving. You may say, I cannot feed them all. But