Wages for Publishing-House Workers
215
tor or manager. Such positions are fraught with great temptation.—
Counsels on Health, 302, 303
.
Men Who Exaggerate Their True Worth—I cannot trace with
pen and ink the disappointment of my soul as I consider what you might
have been had you used and improved your God-given capabilities.
But the Lord cannot save the man who has a greater desire to win the
crown than he has to bear the cross. The Lord wants men who manifest
more anxiety lest they shall fail to do their duty in every respect than
they do for their reward.
I speak to you in the name of the Lord. I know you do not see
things clearly. When you were receiving large wages from the office
you did not give their equivalent in faithful influence and work. You
were not faithful to keep the charge of the Lord. You have ever valued
your labors far more highly than their worth. By exaggerating the
value of your own work, you have received the credit of the knowledge
and experience which others have brought into the publishing work. I
must tell you the truth: I cannot see how you can ever be connected
with such important interests again when the principles interwoven
into the work have been so entirely contrary to the light God has given
in regard to how His work in business and religious lines should be
conducted.—
Letter 28, 1896
. (See also
Selected Messages 2:196,
197
.)
Expensive Family No Reason for Higher Wages—Men have
written to me saying that they must have high wages, and pleading as
an excuse an expensive family. And at the same time the institution
with which they were connected was obliged to figure closely to meet
running expenses. Why should anyone plead an expensive family
as a reason for demanding high wages? Is not the lesson that Christ
has given sufficient? He says, “If any man will come after me, let
him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (
Matthew
16:24
).—
Selected Messages 2:183
.
[248]
A Lawsuit Instigated by Evil Angels—I hear that you [
A former
Review and Herald publishing-house official.
] have entered into or
intend to enter into a lawsuit against the managers of the Review and
Herald. I wish to tell you that in this you are not guided by the Lord.
This move is instigated by evil angels. God has never prompted you to
do any such thing.