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Messages to Young People
needs of those who can with difficulty provide themselves with even
the plainest clothing.
Saving the Fragments
My sisters, if you would bring your manner of dressing into confor-
mity with the rules given in the Bible, you would have an abundance
with which to help your poorer sisters. You would have not only
means, but time. Often this is most needed. There are many whom
you might help with your suggestions, your tact and skill. Show them
how to dress simply and yet tastefully. Many a woman remains away
from the house of God because her shabby, ill-fitting garments are in
such striking contrast to the dress of others. Many a sensitive spirit
cherishes a sense of bitter humiliation and injustice because of this
contrast. And because of it many are led to doubt the reality of religion
and to harden their hearts against the gospel.
Christ bids us, “Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing
[322]
be lost.” While thousands are every day perishing from famine, blood-
shed, fire, and plague, it becomes every lover of his kind to see that
nothing is wasted, that nothing is needlessly expended, whereby he
might benefit a human being.
It is wrong to waste our time, wrong to waste our thoughts. We
lose every moment that we devote to self-seeking. If every moment
were valued and rightly employed, we should have time for everything
that we need to do for ourselves or for the world. In the expenditure of
money, in the use of time, strength, opportunities, let every Christian
look to God for guidance. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of
God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall
be given him.”—
The Ministry of Healing, 206-208
.
Guide to Economy
It is not necessary to specify here how economy may be practiced
in every particular. Those whose hearts are fully surrendered to God,
and who take His word as their guide, will know how to conduct
themselves in all the duties of life. They will learn of Jesus, who is
meek and lowly of heart; and in cultivating the meekness of Christ they