Written by: John Sernaque
Stewardship
CS - Counsels on Stewardship (1940) Chapter 10—A Call to Greater Earnestness
The world and the churches are breaking God’s law, and the warning must be given, “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation.” With such a curse hanging over the transgressors of God’s holy Sabbath, should we not show greater earnestness, greater zeal? Why are we so indifferent, so selfish, so engrossed in temporal interests? Is our interest separated from Jesus? Has the truth become too pointed, too close in its application to our souls; and like the disciples of Christ who were offended, have we turned away to the beggarly elements of the world? We spend money for selfish purposes, and gratify our own desires, while souls are dying without a knowledge of Jesus and the truth. How long shall this continue? {CS 51.1}
All should have a living faith,—a faith which works by love, and purifies the soul. Men and women are ready to do anything to indulge self, but how little are they willing to do for Jesus, and for their fellow men who are perishing for the want of the truth!... {CS 51.2}
Present truth of the day is being put aside for love of the world, political correctness, self- identifying with whatever tickles your fancy, self-aggrandizement, and among other things that totally focus on self. Love for Jesus and the truth is turned aside to gratify one’s own desires. While souls are perishing for want of the truth, the world is lost in self and temporal interests. What the world needs is greater zeal for the saving truths that purify the soul. The call for greater earnestness and the warning must be given. As stewards for God, the world and the churches are to help their fellow men receive a knowledge of Jesus, lest they perish without Christ. If you find yourself spending money for selfish purposes, consider your fellow men, that they may have life. God promises it will be a blessing for all.
Our kind and gracious Father,
We thank You for giving us Your breath of life. We are eternally grateful for Your self-less sacrifice. We pray that as we are blessed by Your provisions and saving truths, that we in turn may bless those with the knowledge of who You are and how much You love them, that none should perish but have everlasting life. That they may be heirs of the Royal Family, and that You have prepared a mansion for them in Your heavenly kingdom. We pray that You bless the means we return to You, that it may further the work of salvation You have appointed us to do. We thank You for giving us life in abundance, in the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
