Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

Unity of Faith 309toward another according to Christ Jesus: that ye may with one mindand one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”Philippians 2:2: “Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having thesame love, being of one accord, of one mind.”All the people of God should have an interest in His cause. Therehas been a lack of this interest among the brethren in Wisconsin. Therehas also been a lack of energy. Some think it no sin to idle away theirtime, while others who love the precious cause of truth, economizetheir time, and in the strength of God exert themselves and labor hardthat their families may be made neat and comfortable, and they havesomething besides to invest in the cause, that they may do their part tokeep the work of God moving and lay up a treasure in heaven. Oneis not to be eased and others burdened. God requires those who havehealth and strength of body, to do what they can, and use their strengthto His glory, for they are not their own. They are accountable to Godfor the use they make of their time and strength, which are grantedthem of Heaven.The duty to help in the advancement of truth does not rest onlyupon the wealthy. All have a part to act. The man who has employedhis time and strength to accumulate property is accountable for the [325]disposition he makes of that property. If one has health and strength,that is his capital, and he must make a right use of it. If he spends hoursin idleness and needless visiting and talking, he is slothful in business,which God’s word forbids. Such have a work to do to provide for theirown families, and then lay by them in store for charitable purposes asGod has prospered them.We are not placed in this world merely to care for ourselves, butwe are required to aid in the great work of salvation, thus imitatingthe self-denying, self-sacrificing, useful life of Christ. Those wholove their own ease better than they love the truth of God, will not beanxious to use their time and strength wisely and well, that they mayact a part in spreading the truth. Many of the young in Wisconsin havenot felt the weight of the cause or the necessity of their making anysacrifice to advance it. They can never gain strength until they changetheir course and make special efforts to advance the truth, that soulsmay be saved. Some deny themselves and manifest an interest andhave double labor, because of their untiring efforts to sustain the cause