Self-Gratification
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height in spiritual understanding? Are you adjusting your interests and
actions in harmony with the momentous claims of eternity?
Let there be a reformation among the people of God. “Whether
therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory
of God.” Those upon whom the Lord has placed the burden of His
work are struggling to proclaim the message, that souls perishing in
ignorance may be warned. Can you not, by self-denial, do something
to help them in their work? Arouse, and show by your unselfish zeal
and earnestness that you are converted.
Every dollar is required in the work of saving souls. The money
invested by the professed people of God in getting pictures made of
human faces would support several missionaries in the field. Many
small streams, when put together, swell into a large river. We embezzle
our Lord’s goods when we use for selfish pleasure the means which
should be used to proclaim the last message of warning. If you spend
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the Lord’s money for self-gratification, how can you expect Him to
continue to bestow His goods on you? How does the Master regard
those who selfishly invest His money in photographs? That very money
could have been used to purchase reading matter to send to those in
the darkness of ignorance.
The truth that God has given us must be heralded to the world. We
have been given the privilege of doing this work. We are to sow the
seed of truth beside all waters. The Lord calls upon us to practice self-
denial and self-sacrifice. The gospel demands entire consecration. The
necessities of the cause demand all that we can give. Our indulgence
in photographs has been a selfish gratification on our part, which bears
silent witness against us. By this indulgence a large amount of wood,
hay, and stubble has been brought to the foundation, to be consumed
by the fires of the last day.
Duty of Self-Denial
After going from home to home, and seeing the many photographs,
I was instructed to warn our people against this evil.
This much we can do for God. We can put these picture-idols out
of sight. They have no power for good, but interpose between God
and the soul. They can do nothing to help in sowing the seeds of truth.