Written by: John Sernaque
Stewardship
Counsels for the Church Chapter 48- Counsels on Stewardship/The Privilege of being a Co-laborer with God
God is not dependent upon man for the support of His cause. He could have sent means direct from heaven to supply His treasury, if His providence had seen that this was best for man. He might have devised means whereby angels would have been sent to publish the truth to the world without the agency of men. He might have written the truth upon the heavens, and let that declare to the world His requirements in living characters. God is not dependent upon any man’s gold or silver. He says: “Every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.” “If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof.” Psalm 50:10, 12. Whatever necessity there is for our agency in the advancement of the cause of God, He has purposely arranged for our good. He has honored us by making us co-workers with Him. He has ordained that there should be a necessity for the co-operation of men, that they may keep in exercise their benevolence. {CCh 275.1}
God does not need our money. Everything belongs to Him. But He asks us to prove ourselves. Do we love God or do we love the world? If we hold back from giving to God, that which is His, who are we giving God’s money to? If we are not careful, that would be Satan. God has honored us by making us co-workers with Him. God has purposely arranged this for our good, and God honors those who honor Him. Let us further the work that God has appointed to us and not support the work of Satan.
Our kind and loving Father,
We thank You once again for this honor and privilege to be able to give back to You that which is already Yours. We thank You for providing for all our earthly needs. We ask and pray that our offerings are favorable in your sight and that they will continue to support the work that You have entrusted us to do. If we are not able, please bless us so that we are not dependent upon man but solely on Your providence. Help us further Your cause, and that which we have left, bless that as well that it may also be used to glorify Your name. We thank You and praise You for all that You have done for us and everything that You will do for us and we thank You in advance for all Your blessings. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayers, in the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
