Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

634 Testimonies for the Church Volume 1[692]they are deeply aggrieved, because they feel the inconvenience of thelosses they have sustained; yet they do not feel that their unwise coursehas deprived the cause of God of means, and that as His stewardsthey must render an account for this squandering of the Lord’s money.Should they be required to venture something for the cause of God, toinvest a quarter even of that which they have lost by their investmentin earthly things, they would feel that heaven costs too much.Eternal things are not appreciated. You are not a rich man, yet yourheart may be just as much placed upon the little you have, and youmay cling to it just as closely as the millionaire to his treasures. Small,very small, will be the profits realized by you in your investmentsin worldly enterprises; while, on the other hand, if you invest in thecause of God, make that cause a part of you, and love it as you loveyourself, and are willing to sacrifice for its advancement, showing yourconfidence and faith in its ultimate triumph, you will reap a preciousharvest, if not in this life, in the better life than this. You will reap aneternal reward which is of as much higher value than any common,earthly gains as the immortal is higher than the perishable.Brother B, you seemed anxious to find out what had been said inregard to your position in the church and what was our mind in regardto it. It was just this that I have written. I feared for you because ofwhat I have been shown of your peculiarities. You moved by impulse.You would pray if you felt like it, and speak if you felt like it. Youwould go to meeting if so disposed, or stay at home if not. You greatlylacked the spirit of self-sacrifice. You have consulted your own wishesand ease, and pleased yourself, instead of feeling that you shouldplease God. Duty, duty! at your post every time. Have you enlisted asa soldier of the cross of Christ? If so, your feelings do not excuse youfrom duty. You must be willing to endure hardness as a good soldier.Go without the camp, bearing the reproach; for thus did the Captain ofyour salvation. The qualifications of a bishop, or of an elder or deacon,are, to be “blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soonangry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; but alover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may beable by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”Paul enumerates the precious gifts to be desired, and exhorts thebrethren: “He that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth,