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Peter’s Counsel to Parents
advantage that which is given me. I must not waste one jot or tittle
of my powers in the gratification of appetite or pride of appearance.
In my family I must be a faithful teacher, training my children for the
future, immortal life. I must teach them to be honest and truthful, kind
and patient. I myself must be all that I desire my children to be; for
in speaking of His disciples, Christ said, ‘For their sakes I sanctify
myself, that they also might be sanctified.’”
If you have buried in the earth the one talent that God entrusted to
you, I beseech you to improve it before He inquires, What have you
done with the talent that I gave you?
The talent of means
Often the talent of means is buried. Money lying unused in banks
is regarded by the Lord as a buried talent. God wants His followers
to use the talent of means in His service. We should do our part to
carry forward the different lines of work in all parts of the earth. A
great work is to be done in the cities. Camp meetings are to be held in
many places. Those who have the talent of means may multiply it by
using it to the work of giving to the world the message of truth for this
time. When through the instrumentality of our one talent someone is
brought into the truth, that one talent is doubled. And when this person
brings others into the truth, there is still further increase of talents.
To him who uses aright his one talent, the Master will say, “Well
done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a
few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into
the joy of thy Lord.” The well-doer is not rewarded in proportion to
the number of his entrusted talents, but in proportion to the use made
of that which he has, and the motive which prompts his action.
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I tell you these things in order that you may individually feel that
God desires to use you in His service. There is a place for you to fill
in this world. If you fill this place faithfully, the Lord of heaven will
work in your behalf, and you will see of the salvation of God. This is
what we are so anxious for everyone to see.
In
Isaiah 57:15
we read: “Thus saith the high and lofty One that
inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy
place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive