Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

Deceitfulness of Riches 497obtained, and upon the increase of it in their hands. As these thingswere shown me, I could see the force of our Saviour’s words: “It iseasier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a richman to enter into the kingdom of God.” Those who possess the abilityto acquire property need to be constantly on the watch or they willturn their acquisitiveness to bad account and not maintain strict honesty.Thus many fall into temptation, overreach, receive more for athing than it is worth, and sacrifice the generous, benevolent, nobleprinciples of their manhood for sordid gain.I was shown that many who profess to be Sabbathkeepers so lovethe world and the things that are in the world that they have beencorrupted by its spirit and influence; the divine has disappeared fromtheir characters and the satanic has crept in, transforming them to servethe purposes of Satan, to be instruments of unrighteousness. Thenin contrast with these men I was shown the industrious, honest, poormen who stand ready to help those who need help, who would rathersuffer themselves to be disadvantaged by their wealthy brethren thanto manifest so close and acquisitive a spirit as they manifest; men who [538]esteem a clear conscience and right, even in little things, of greatervalue than riches. They are so ready to help others, so willing to do allthe good in their power, that they do not amass wealth; their earthlypossessions do not increase. If there is a benevolent object to callforth means or labor, they are the first to be interested in and respondto it, and frequently do far beyond their real ability, and thus denythemselves some needed good, to carry out their benevolent purposes.Because these men can boast of but little earthly treasure, they maybe looked upon as deficient in ability, in judgment, and in wisdom.They may be counted of no special worth, and their influence maynot be esteemed by men; yet how does God regard these poor wisemen? They are regarded precious in His sight, and, although notincreasing their treasure upon earth, they are laying up for themselvesan incorruptible treasure in the heavens, and in doing this they manifesta wisdom as far superior to that of the wise, calculating, acquisitiveprofessed Christian as the divine and godlike is superior to the earthly,carnal, and satanic. It is moral worth that God values. A Christiancharacter unblotted with avarice, possessing quietness, meekness, andhumility, is more precious in His sight than the most fine gold, eventhe golden wedge of Ophir.