Testimonies for the Church, Volume 2 - Ellen G. White

God would not have His people expend means
extravagantly for show or ornament, but He would
have them observe neatness, order, taste, and plain
beauty in preparing a house for Him in which He is
to meet with His people. Those who build a house
for God should manifest as much greater interest,
care, and taste in its arrangement as the object for
which it is prepared is higher and more holy than
that for which common dwelling houses are
prepared.
The Lord reads the intents and purposes of
men. Those who have exalted views of His
character will feel it their highest pleasure to have
everything which has any connection with Him of
the very best work and displaying the very best
taste. But those who can grudgingly build a poorer
house to dedicate to God than they would accept to
live in themselves show their lack of reverence for
God and for sacred things. Their work shows that
their own temporal concerns are of more value in
their eyes than matters of a spiritual nature. Eternal
things are made secondary. It is not considered
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