Written by: John Sernaque
Stewardship
CS - Counsels on Stewardship (1940) Chapter 7— Cheerful Liberality in the Closing Work
What if some become poor in investing their means in the work? Christ for your sakes became poor; but you are securing for yourselves eternal riches, a treasure in heaven that faileth not. Your means is far safer there than if deposited in the bank, or invested in houses and lands. It is laid up in bags that wax not old. No thief can approach it, no fire consume it.... {CS 41.1}
In obeying the Saviour’s injunction, our example will preach louder than words. The highest display of the power of truth is seen when those who profess to believe it give evidence of their faith by their works. Those who believe this solemn truth should possess such a spirit of self-sacrifice as will rebuke the worldly ambition of the money worshiper.—Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists, 291-293. {CS 41.2}
Christ Jesus became poor that we may be rich, not in earthly riches, but in heavenly riches. Jesus did not even have a home to lay his head at the end of the day. His spirit of self-sacrifice was exemplified on the cross at Calvary. So are we to demonstrate our love for Him with such a spirit of self-sacrifice for humanity, laying up our treasures in heaven where they fail not. Our actions, giving back to God what is rightfully His, speak louder than words. If you profess being a believer of the truth, give evidence of your faith by your works, for faith without works is dead.
Our kind and gracious Father,
We thank You for giving us the privilege of being a co-laborer with You in the plan of salvation. It is our privilege and honor to have this opportunity to lay up our treasures in heaven, where they are safer than in any bank or invested in land or houses. We pray that You will bless that which we return unto You to further the work of salvation that souls may be saved for Your heavenly kingdom. We are eternally grateful to You for the spirit of self-sacrifice that You have bestowed upon us. We pray that You will increase our faith and keep us faithful in our giving. This is our prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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