Importance of Wills
79
We should regard ourselves as stewards of the Lord’s property,
and God as the supreme proprietor, to whom we are to render His
own when He shall require it. When He shall come to receive His
own with usury, the covetous will see that instead of multiplying the
talents entrusted to them, they have brought upon themselves the doom
pronounced upon the unprofitable servant.
The Lord designs that the death of His servants shall be regarded
as a loss, because of the influence for good which they exerted and the
many willing offerings which they bestowed to replenish the treasury
of God. Dying legacies are a miserable substitute for living benevo-
lence. The servants of God should be making their wills every day, in
good works and liberal offerings to God. They should not allow the
amount given to God to be disproportionately small when compared
with that appropriated to their own use. In making their wills daily,
they will remember those objects and friends that hold the largest place
in their affections.
Their best friend is Jesus. He did not withhold His own life from
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them, but for their sakes became poor, that through His poverty they
might be made rich. He deserves the whole heart, the property, all that
they have and are. But many professed Christians put off the claims of
Jesus in life, and insult Him by giving Him a mere pittance at death.
Let all of this class remember that this robbery of God is not an
impulsive action, but a well-considered plan which they preface by
saying, “Being in sound mind.” After having defrauded the cause of
God through life, they perpetuate the fraud after death. And this is
with the full consent of all the powers of the mind. Such a will many
are content to cherish for a dying pillow. Their will is a part of their
preparation for death, and is prepared so that their possessions shall
not disturb their dying hours. Can these dwell with pleasure upon
the requirement that will be made of them to give an account of their
stewardship?
We must all be rich in good works in this life, if we would se-
cure the future, immortal life. When the judgment shall sit, and the
books shall be opened, every man will be rewarded according to his
works. Many names are enrolled on the church book that have rob-
bery recorded against them in the ledger of heaven. An unless these
repent, and work for the Master with disinterested benevolence, they
will certainly share in the doom of the unfaithful steward.