Written by: John Sernaque
Stewardship
CS - Counsels on Stewardship (1940) Chapter 17—Robbing God
Ask yourself the question, What am I doing with the Lord’s talents? Are you placing yourselves where the words are applicable to you, “Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed Me, even this whole nation”? {CS 85.1}
We are living in a time of solemn privilege and sacred trust, a time in which our destiny is being decided for life or for death. Let us come to our senses. You who claim to be children of God, bring your tithes to His treasury. Make your offerings willingly and abundantly, according as God has prospered you. Remember that the Lord has entrusted you with talents, upon which you are to trade diligently for Him. Remember also that the faithful servant takes no credit to himself. All the praise and glory is given to the Lord: Thou deliveredst unto me thy pound. No gain could have been made unless there had first been a deposit. There could have been no interest without the principal. The capital was advanced by the Lord. Success in trading comes from Him, and to Him belongs the glory. {CS 85.2}
Oh, if all who have a knowledge of the truth would only obey the teaching of this truth! Why is it that men, standing on the very threshold of the eternal world, are so blinded? There is not a dearth of means, generally speaking, among Seventh-day Adventists. But many Seventh-day Adventists fail to realize the responsibility which rests upon them to cooperate with God and Christ for the saving of souls. They do not show forth to the world the great interest God has in sinners. They do not make the most of the opportunities granted them. The leprosy of selfishness has taken hold of the church. The Lord Jesus Christ will heal the church of this terrible disease if she will be healed. The remedy is found in the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah.—The Review and Herald, December 10, 1901. {CS 85.3}
[Is] not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Isaiah 58:6. We are not to be like the Pharisees, who presented themselves while fasting to appear as in agony in their self-righteousness. Fasting is to give up your food to someone who has none. To give up your bread to the hungry, clothe the naked, and bring in the poor to thy house. And [if] thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness [be] as the noon day: Isaiah 58:10. And [they that shall be] of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. Isaiah 58:12. Christians are privileged with the responsibility to cooperate with God for the saving of souls. There is no time for selfishness in the church today. For the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it]. Isaiah 58:14.
Our Father, which art in heaven,
We thank You for the privilege of entrusting us in being co laborers with You in the plan of salvation. We are honored to be participants in the repairing of the breach. We pray that as we give back the means You have entrusted to us that they will help feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and shelter the homeless. We pray for a special blessing on the missionaries as they go out into the vineyard to minister to Your people right where they are. Help us to break every yoke. Let us yoke up to You because Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light. In the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Comments