Written by: John Sernaque
Stewardship
CS - Counsels on Stewardship (1940) Chapter 18—A Reason for Adversity
Many who profess to be Christians provide abundantly for themselves, supplying all their imaginary wants, while they give no heed to the wants of the Lord’s cause. They have thought it gain to rob God by retaining all, or a selfish proportion, of His gifts as their own. But they meet with loss instead of gain. Their course results in the withdrawal of mercies and blessings. By their selfish, avaricious spirit, men have lost much. If they had fully and freely acknowledged God’s requirements and met His claims, His blessing would have been manifest in increasing the productions of the earth. The harvests would have been greater. The wants of all would have been abundantly supplied. The more we give, the more we shall receive.—The Review and Herald, December 8, 1896. {CS 90.2}
If everyone returned unto God their required amount, the needs of all would be met. God’s treasury would have enough to further the Lord’s cause. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Many are withholding that which belongs to God and providing abundantly for themselves, paying no heed to the work appointed all to do. Not only are they robbing God, they are robbing themselves. God’s blessings and mercies abound. However, God will withdraw these from those who are not being faithful in their giving. God will bless the faithful and obedient, and the more they give, the more they will receive. God honors those that honor Him.
Our kind and gracious Father,
We thank You for all Your mercies and blessings. We thank You for entrusting us as stewards of all that belongs to You. We gladly and cheerfully return unto Your treasury what You require from us. We pray You will bless these means to further the work appointed to us in proclaiming the everlasting gospel to all peoples and nations. Help us and protect us as we go about doing Your business. We pray that the needs of all are abundantly supplied. Prove us dear Lord that You will pour us out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it. We thank and praise You, in the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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