78
The Retirement Years
sake. We must acknowledge that our possessions are absolutely His,
by using of them freely whenever means is needed to advance His
cause. Some close their ears to the calls made for money to be used in
sending missionaries to foreign countries, and in publishing the truth
and scattering it like autumn leaves all over the world.
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Such excuse their covetousness by informing you that they have
made arrangements to be charitable at death. They have considered
the cause of God in their wills. Therefore they live a life of avarice,
robbing God in tithes and in offerings, and in their wills return to God
but a small portion of that which He has lent them, while a very large
proportion is appropriated to relatives who have no interest in the truth.
This is the worst kind of robbery. They rob God of His just dues, not
only all through life, but also at death.
It is utter folly to defer to make a preparation for the future life
until nearly the last hour of the present life. It is also a great mistake to
defer to answer the claims of God for liberality to His cause until the
time comes when you are to shift your stewardship upon others. Those
to whom you entrust your talents of means may not do as well with
them as you have done. How dare rich men run so great risks? Those
who wait till death before they make a disposition of their property,
surrender it to death rather than to God. In so doing, many are acting
directly contrary to the plan of God plainly stated in His Word. If
they would do good, they must seize the present golden moments, and
labor with all their might, as if fearful that they may lose the favorable
opportunity.
Those who neglect known duty by not answering to God’s claims
upon them in this life, and who soothe their consciences by calculating
on making their bequests at death, will receive no words of commen-
dation from the Master, nor will they receive a reward. They practiced
no self-denial, but selfishly retained their means as long as they could,
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yielding it up only when death claimed them.
That which many propose to defer until they are about to die, if
they were Christians indeed they would do while they have a strong
hold on life. They would devote themselves and their property to God,
and, while acting as His stewards, they would have the satisfaction of
doing their duty. By becoming their own executors, they could meet
the claims of God themselves, instead of shifting the responsibility
upon others.