Testimonies for the Church Volume 1 - A New You Ministry

men, they were lying to God. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.”Such can stand the test of the judgment no better than the man who received theone talent and hid it in the earth. When called to account, he accused God of injustice:“I knew Thee that Thou art an hard man, reaping where Thou hast not sown, andgathering where Thou hast not strewed: and I was afraid, and went and hid Thy talentin the earth [where the cause of God could not be benefited with it]: lo, there Thouhast that is Thine.” Saith God: “Take therefore the talent from him, and give it untohim which hath ten talents.... And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness:there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” This man was afraid that his Lord wouldbe benefited by the improvement of his talent.I saw that there are many who have wrapped their talent in a napkin and hid it in theearth. They seem to think that every penny which is invested in the cause of God is lostto them beyond redemption. To those who feel thus, it is even so. They will receiveno reward. They give grudgingly only because they feel obliged to do something.God loveth the cheerful giver. Those who flatter themselves that they can shift theirresponsibility upon the wife or children are deceived by the enemy. A transfer ofproperty will not lessen their responsibility. They are accountable for the means whichHeaven has entrusted to their care, and in no way can they excuse themselves fromthis responsibility until they are released by rendering back to God that which He hascommitted to them.The love of the world separates from God. “If any man love the world, the loveof the Father is not in him.” It is impossible for any to discern the truth while theworld has their affections. The world comes between them and God, beclouding thevision and benumbing the sensibilities to such a degree that it is impossible for themto discern sacred530