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Human Needs and Divine Supply
143
will claim nothing. He will realize that they are the talents that God
delivered unto him, and will give glory to the Master. He knows
that there would have been no gain without the deposit, no interest
without the principal. He will say, “Lord, thou deliveredst unto me
five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.”
Let the church now consider whether they are putting out to usury
the capital the Lord has given. Without the grace of Christ every soul
would have been bankrupt for eternity; therefore we can rightfully
claim nothing. But while we can claim nothing, yet when we are
faithful stewards, the Lord rewards us as if the merit were all our
own. He says, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast
been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many
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things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
How many will mourn for lost opportunities when it is eternally
too late! Today we have talent and opportunity, but we know not
how long these may be ours. Then let us work while it is day; for the
night cometh, in which no man can work. “Blessed is that servant,
whom his Lord when He cometh shall find so doing.”
* * * * *
Return to the First Love
[Special Testimonies, Series A 2a:17-22 (1892).]
Melbourne, Australia,
July 15, 1892
The reason so many fail to have success is that they trust in them-
selves altogether too much, and do not feel the positive necessity
of abiding in Christ as they go forth to seek and save that which is
lost. Until they have the mind of Christ and teach the truth as it is in
Jesus, they will not accomplish much. I walk with trembling before
God. I know not how to speak or trace with pen the large subject
of the atoning sacrifice. I know not how to present subjects in the
living power in which they stand before me. I tremble for fear lest I
shall belittle the great plan of salvation by cheap words. I bow my
soul in awe and reverence before God, and say, Who is sufficient for
these things? How can I talk, how can I write to my brethren, so that