Written by: John Sernaque
Stewardship
CS - Counsels on Stewardship (1940) Chapter 10—A Call to Greater Earnestness The Spirit of Sacrifice
How can those for whom Christ has sacrificed so much, continue to enjoy His gifts selfishly? His love and self-denial are without a parallel; and when this love enters into the experience of His followers, they will identify their interests with those of their Redeemer. Their work will be to build up the kingdom of Christ. They will consecrate themselves and their possessions to Him, and use both as His cause may require. {CS 55.1}
This is nothing more than Jesus expects of His followers. No individual who has before him so great an object as the salvation of souls will be at a loss to devise ways and means for denying self. This will be an individual work. All that it is in our power to bestow will flow into the Lord’s treasury, to be used for the proclamation of truth, that the message of Christ’s soon coming and the claims of His law may be sounded to all parts of the world. Missionaries must be sent out to do this work. {CS 55.2}
The love of Jesus in the soul will be revealed in word and deed. The kingdom of Christ will be paramount. Self will be laid a willing sacrifice on the altar of God. Everyone who is truly united with Christ will feel the same love for souls that caused the Son of God to leave His royal throne, His high command, and for our sake become poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich.—The Review and Herald, October 13, 1896. {CS 55.3}
Christ Jesus laid down His life out of love for humanity. This type of love Jesus expects from us. That we deny self out of love for the salvation of souls. That we bestow all means possible into the Lord’s treasury to proclaim the everlasting gospel to every nation, and kindred, and people, and tongues. For the use of missionaries to go out into all parts of the world with the good news of Christ’s soon coming. Jesus exemplified the spirit of sacrifice as an example unto us, that we may be an example unto others and a source of strength to them. To build up the kingdom of Christ is the work God has appointed for us to do. Christ Jesus, for our sake became poor that we through His poverty might be made rich.
Dear God,
We thank You for this opportunity and privilege to be co-workers with You in carrying out the plan of salvation. We pray that the means we bestow into Your treasury will allow the everlasting gospel to be preached unto all peoples, far and wide, that they may receive the good news of Your soon coming. We thank You, as Your followers, for allowing us to unite with You to feel the same love for souls that You have shown to us. We thank You for leaving the splendor of heaven, for our sake, and pray that one day we will be with You in heaven. We thank You for all Your blessings, in the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
