Testimonies for the Church Volume 1 - A New You Ministry

helped Satan to deceive them and make them think that they were very liberal, verysacrificing, when they knew not the first principles of liberality or self-sacrifice.Some men and women make themselves believe that they do not consider the thingsof this world of much value, but prize the truth and its advancement higher than anyworldly gain. Many will awake at last to find that they have been deceived. They mayhave once appreciated the truth, and earthly treasures in comparison with truth mayhave appeared to them valueless; but after a time, as their worldly treasure increased,they became less devotional. Although they have enough for a comfortable sustenance,yet all their acts show that they are in nowise satisfied. Their works testify that theirhearts are bound up in their earthly treasure. Gain, gain, is their watchword. To this endevery member of the family participates in their labor. They give themselves scarcelyany time for devotion or for prayer. They work early and late. Sickly, diseased womenand feeble children whip up their flagging ambition and use up the vitality and strengththey have to reach an object, to gain a little, make a little more money. They flatterthemselves that they are doing this that they may help the cause of God. Terribledeception! Satan looks on and laughs for he knows that they are selling soul and bodythrough their lust for gain. They are continually making flimsy excuses for thus sellingthemselves for gain. They are blinded by the God of this world. Christ has boughtthem by His own blood; but they rob Christ, rob God, tear themselves to pieces, andare almost useless in society.They devote but little time to the improvement of the mind, and but little time tosocial or domestic enjoyment. They are of but little benefit to anyone. Their lives are aterrible mistake. Those who thus abuse themselves feel that their course of unremittinglabor is praiseworthy. They are destroying themselves by their presumptuous labor.They are476