Written by: John Sernaque
Stewardship
CS - Counsels on Stewardship (1940) Chapter 7— Shall We Abandon the Work?
Our message is world wide; yet many are doing literally nothing, many more so very little, with so great a want of faith, that it is next to nothing. Shall we abandon the fields we have already opened in foreign countries? Shall we drop part of the work in our home missions? Shall we grow pale at a debt of a few thousand dollars? Shall we falter and become laggards now, in the very last scenes of this earth’s history? My heart says, No, no. I cannot contemplate this question without a burning zeal to have the work go. We would not deny our faith, we would not deny Christ, yet we shall do this unless we move forward as the providence of God opens the way. {CS 39.3}
The work must not stop for want of means. More means must be invested in it. Brethren in America, in the name of my Master I bid you wake up! You that are placing your talents of means in a napkin, and hiding them in the earth, who are building houses and adding land to land, God calls upon you, “Sell that ye have, and give alms.” There is a time coming when commandment keepers can neither buy nor sell. Make haste to dig out your buried talents. If God has entrusted you with money, show yourselves faithful to your trust; unwrap your napkin, and send your talents to the exchangers, that when Christ shall come, He may receive His own with interest. {CS 40.1}
This message is as relevant today as it was in Ellen White’s day, even more so today. The work is to continue locally and abroad. There are many in need, lacking in the necessities of life, while some have an abundance, adding onto their own riches, withholding from God’s treasury. God requires our cooperation in carrying out the work. All are required to give back that which belongs to God. Your country property will not save you. Demonstrate your faith in Christ that He may receive His own with interest. Do not be like the one in the parable of the talents whereby the servant who digs the one talent in the ground is called a wicked and lazy servant. The means, which God has entrusted to you, are to be invested in God’s work, and not in your earthly vanities. Will God call you a faithful servant, or a wicked servant? If it is the latter, look in the mirror and wake up!
Our kind and gracious Father,
We thank You for giving us the strength and endurance to labor for means to invest in Your plan of salvation. We pray that You will bless these means to go out worldwide, that no field is neglected. Help us to move forward by Your mighty hand. We pray that those You have entrusted with means will show themselves faithful by investing in the work You have appointed for all to do. Give them the faith to sell what they have and give alms, and to dig up their talents for God to receive His own with interest. We pray that one day we will hear You call us good and faithful servants. This we pray, in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen.
