194
Welfare Ministry
Risk Something to Save Souls—There is a fearfulness to venture
out and to run risks in this great work, fearing that the expenditure of
means would not bring returns. What if means are used, and yet we
cannot see that souls have been saved by it? What if there is a dead
loss of a portion of our means? Better work and keep at work than to
do nothing. You know not which shall prosper, this or that. Men will
invest in patent rights and meet with heavy losses, and it is taken as a
matter of course. But in the work and cause of God, men are afraid to
venture. Money seems to them to be a dead loss that does not bring
immediate returns when invested in the work of saving souls. The
very means that is now so sparingly invested in the cause of God, and
that is selfishly retained, will, in a little while, be cast with all idols to
the moles and to the bats. Money will soon depreciate in value very
suddenly when the reality of eternal scenes opens to the senses of man.
God will have men who will venture anything and everything to
save souls. Those who will not move until they can see every step of
the way clearly before them will not be of advantage at this time to
forward the truth of God. There must be workers now who will push
ahead in the dark as well as in the light, and who will hold up bravely
under discouragements and disappointed hopes, and yet work on with
faith, with tears and patient hope, sowing beside all waters, trusting the
Lord to bring the increase. God calls for men of nerve, of hope, faith,
and endurance, to work to the point.—
The True Missionary, January,
1874
.
[267]
Every Dollar Is Needed—The end of all things is at hand, and
God calls for men to come into active service and do their duty because
He desires it and the world needs their help. Under the guidance of
the Holy Spirit men will become discreet in the outlay of means and
will expend it according to the greatness and importance of the work
which is to be done.... The Lord God of heaven calls upon men to
put away their idols, to cut off every extravagant desire, to indulge in
nothing that is simply for display and parade, and to study economy
in purchasing garments and furniture. Do not expend one dollar of
God’s money in purchasing needless articles. Your money means
the salvation of souls. Then let it not be spent for gems, for gold, or
precious stones....
You may give thousands of dollars to the cause, and yet that extra
dollar, that extra pound, is called for. Every pound is needed, every