Testimonies for the Church Volume 1 - A New You Ministry

the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word,and he becometh unfruitful.” The deceitfulness of riches leads them on, step by step,until they lose all love for the truth, and yet they flatter themselves that they believe it.They love the world and the things of the world, but the love of God or of the truth isnot in them.In order to gain a little money, many deliberately arrange their business matters sothat it necessarily brings a great amount of hard work upon those laboring out of doors,and upon their families in the house. The bone, muscle, and brain of all are taxed tothe utmost; a great amount of work is before them to be done, and the excuse is, theymust accomplish just all that they possibly can or there will be a loss, something willbe wasted. Everything must be saved, let the result be what it may. What have suchgained? Perhaps they have been able to keep the principal good and add to it. But, onthe other hand, what have they lost? Their capital of health, which is invaluable to thepoor as well as the rich, has been steadily diminishing. The mother and the childrenhave made repeated drafts upon their fund of health and strength, thinking that such anextravagant expenditure would never exhaust their capital, until they are surprised atlast to find their vigor of life exhausted. They have nothing left to draw upon in caseof emergency. The sweetness and happiness of life is embittered by racking pains andsleepless nights. Both physical and mental vigor are gone. The husband and father,who, for the sake of gain, made the unwise arrangement of his business, it may be withthe full sanction of the wife and mother, may, as the result, bury the mother and one ormore of the children. Health and life were sacrificed for the love of money. “For thelove of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erredfrom the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”There is a great work to be accomplished for Sabbathkeepers.478