Testimonies for the Church Volume 1 - A New You Ministry

prove them and develop character. In some instances the Lord will suffer men togo on, and meet with an entire failure. His hand is against them to disappoint theirhopes and scatter what they possess. Those who really feel an interest in the causeof God, and are willing to venture something for its advancement, will find it a sureand safe investment. Some will have a hundredfold in this life, and in the world tocome life everlasting. But all will not receive their hundredfold in this life, becausethey cannot bear it. If entrusted with much, they would become unwise stewards. TheLord withholds it for their good; but their treasure in heaven will be secure. How muchbetter is such an investment as this!The desire that some of our brethren possess to earn means fast, leads them toengage in a new enterprise and invest means, but often their expectations of makingmoney are not realized. They sink that which they could have spent in God’s cause.There is an infatuation in these new enterprises. And notwithstanding these thingshave been acted over so many times, and they have before them the example of otherswho have made investments and have met with an utter failure, yet many are slow tolearn. Satan allures them on, and makes them drunk with anticipated gains. When theirhopes are blasted, they suffer many discouragements in consequence of their unwiseadventures. If means is lost, the person looks upon it as a misfortune to himself—as hisloss. But he must remember that it is the means of another which he is handling, thathe is only a steward, and God is displeased with the unwise management of that meanswhich could have been used to advance the cause of present truth. At the reckoningday the unfaithful steward must give an account of his stewardship.226