“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”—John 10:11

There is a work that must be done for the wealthy, to arouse them to a realization of their relationship to humanity and their accountability to God. They must be awakened to the fact that they are to give an account to Him who shall judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom. Those who are rich are put under responsibility to labor for others in the love and fear of God. But many of the rich trust in their riches, and do not realize the danger in which they are placed. God has something to give them of vastly more value than gold or silver or precious jewels. The soul needs to be attracted by the things that are of enduring value. They need to understand the value of true goodness. Jesus says unto them, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He asks them to exchange the yoke of their own manufacturing for His yoke, which is easy, and for His burden, which is light. He says, “Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” He is calling: “If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink.” “Him that cometh unto Me I will in nowise cast out.”

Those who will listen to the voice of Christ, will recognize the voice of superior goodness, the voice of the True Shepherd. Oh, that the wealthy might feel their responsibility to be faithful stewards of the means which God has entrusted to their care! Oh, that they might understand that they must be agents for God, if they would meet His approval! Oh, that they might know that they were standing upon holy ground, and might be distinguished workers, engaging with Christ in the grand work of elevating those whom Christ died to save! …

He [God] has entrusted riches to the wealthy in order that they may bless humanity, by relieving the wants of the suffering and needy. This is the work that has been committed to them, and in doing this work they are not to feel that they have done some wonderful thing….

He does not intend that one shall have all the luxuries of life, and that others shall cry for bread. All the means entrusted to humanity over and above what is required to supply their own necessities, is entrusted to them for the blessing of humanity.—The Signs of the Times, July 30, 1894.

Further Reflection: Do I see wealthy people as possible candidates for heaven whom God has called me to reach, or do I see a group rich with goods and in need of nothing?

From Jesus, Name Above All Names

You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.—Psalm 145:16

The tender mercies and loving-kindnesses of the Lord have been toward us all the days of our life, and the whole world should be filled with thankful voices, proclaiming the benevolence and love of God. The psalmist says: “The eyes of all wait upon Thee; and Thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest Thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.” When we were sold under sin, He who was rich in glory, for our sake became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich. Well may we ask our souls, “How much owest thou unto my Lord?” The benevolence of Christ is exercised every day in the year. He gives daily His gifts unto us. His Holy Spirit is constantly at work, drawing the hearts of men and women, guiding them into all truth. Before the crucifixion of Christ, He told His sorrowing disciples that He would send them another Comforter, which should abide with them forever. The grace of Christ is multiplied toward us, and given without stint. The streams of salvation are continually flowing for us.

In view of what Christ has done and is doing for the children of humanity, should we not bring gratitude offerings to Him? Should our gifts flow only to one another, and the Giver of every good and perfect gift be forgotten? The Lord has said, “Them that honor Me, I will honor.” We should not wait to make an offering to God until we are out of debt. His cause demands the means that He has given to us in trust, and we should present a portion on the altar of God as freely as the infinite sacrifice was made for us. We have no time to lose in passing our treasures on to the bank of heaven. Whatever we may do, let us not forget God. If we love Him with all the heart, we shall remember His claims upon us. God requires that we shall be like Him, that we shall imitate the self-sacrificing example of Christ, and live a life of self-denial. We should prayerfully consider the question, “How much owest thou unto the Lord?”

Are there those who are robbing God in tithes and offerings? Seek to make your accounts straight; do not leave your obligation to God as the last thing to be settled.—The Signs of the Times, January 6, 1890.

Further Reflection: When has God miraculously returned money that I sacrificially gave to His cause? In what other ways does God repay that which we wager for Him?

From Jesus, Name Above All Names

“I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.”—John 14:30

The “time of trouble, such as never was,” is soon to open upon us; and we shall need an experience which we do not now possess and which many are too indolent to obtain. It is often the case that trouble is greater in anticipation than in reality; but this is not true of the crisis before us. The most vivid presentation cannot reach the magnitude of the ordeal. In that time of trial, every soul must stand for himself before God. “Though Noah, Daniel, and Job” were in the land, “as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness” (Ezekiel 14:20).

Now, while our great High Priest is making the atonement for us, we should seek to become perfect in Christ. Not even by a thought could our Saviour be brought to yield to the power of temptation. Satan finds in human hearts some point where he can gain a foothold; some sinful desire is cherished, by means of which his temptations assert their power. But Christ declared of Himself: “The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me” (John 14:30). Satan could find nothing in the Son of God that would enable him to gain the victory. He had kept His Father’s commandments, and there was no sin in Him that Satan could use to his advantage. This is the condition in which those must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble.

It is in this life that we are to separate sin from us, through faith in the atoning blood of Christ. Our precious Saviour invites us to join ourselves to Him, to unite our weakness to His strength, our ignorance to His wisdom, our unworthiness to His merits. God’s providence is the school in which we are to learn the meekness and lowliness of Jesus. The Lord is ever setting before us, not the way we would choose, which seems easier and pleasanter to us, but the true aims of life. It rests with us to co-operate with the agencies which Heaven employs in the work of conforming our characters to the divine model. None can neglect or defer this work but at the most fearful peril to their souls.—The Great Controversy, 622, 623.

Further Reflection: What cherished sin must I give up? How can I unite my weakness in this area of my life with the strength offered by Jesus?

From Jesus, Name Above All Names

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.—Romans 5:8

A man might pass over the place where treasure had been concealed. In dire necessity he might sit down to rest at the foot of a tree, not knowing of the riches hidden at its roots. So it was with the Jews. As a golden treasure, truth had been entrusted to the Hebrew people. The Jewish economy, bearing the signature of Heaven, had been instituted by Christ Himself. In types and symbols the great truths of redemption were veiled. Yet when Christ came, the Jews did not recognize Him to whom all these symbols pointed. They had the word of God in their hands; but the traditions which had been handed down from generation to generation, and the human interpretation of the Scriptures, hid from them the truth as it is in Jesus. The spiritual import of the sacred writings was lost. The treasure house of all knowledge was open to them, but they knew it not.

God does not conceal His truth from human beings. By their own course of action they make it obscure to themselves. Christ gave the Jewish people abundant evidence that He was the Messiah; but His teaching called for a decided change in their lives. They saw that if they received Christ, they must give up their cherished maxims and traditions, their selfish, ungodly practices. It required a sacrifice to receive changeless, eternal truth. Therefore they would not admit the most conclusive evidence that God could give to establish faith in Christ. They professed to believe the Old Testament Scriptures, yet they refused to accept the testimony contained therein concerning Christ’s life and character. They were afraid of being convinced lest they should be converted and be compelled to give up their preconceived opinions. The treasure of the gospel, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, was among them, but they rejected the greatest gift that Heaven could bestow.

“Among the chief rulers also many believed on Him,” we read; “but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue” (John 12:42). They were convinced; they believed Jesus to be the Son of God; but it was not in harmony with their ambitious desires to confess Him.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 104-106.

Further Reflection: What am I willing to sacrifice to receive changeless, eternal truth?

From Jesus, Name Above All Names

“I am the LORD, and there is no other; there is no God besides Me.”—Isaiah 45:5

Our Lord is cognizant of the conflict of His people in these last days with the satanic agencies combined with evil men and women who neglect and refuse this great salvation. With the greatest simplicity and candor our Saviour, the Mighty General of the armies of Heaven, does not conceal the stern conflict which they will experience. He points out the dangers, He shows us the plan of the battle, and the hard and hazardous work to be done, and then lifts His voice before entering the conflict to count the cost while at the same time He encourages all to take up the weapons of their warfare and expect the heavenly host to compose the armies to war in defense of truth and righteousness.

Humanity’s weakness shall find supernatural strength and help in every stern conflict to do the deeds of Omnipotence, and perseverance in faith and perfect trust in God will ensure success. While the vast confederacy of evil is arrayed against them He bids them to be brave and strong and fight valiantly, for they have a heaven to win, and they have more than an angel in their ranks, the mighty General of armies leads on the armies of heaven. As on the occasion of the taking of Jericho, not one of the armies of Israel could boast of exercising their finite strength to overthrow the walls of this city, but the Captain of the Lord’s Host planned that battle in the greatest simplicity, that the Lord God alone should receive the glory and human beings should not be exalted. God has promised us all power. “For the promise is unto you and your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:39).

It is not great talent that we want now, it is humble hearts and direct, consecrated, personal effort, watching, praying, working with all perseverance. The sins of the people may seem so offensive to God as to be invincible, but Christ has sent His representative, the Holy Spirit, surrounding His living agents who are employed to pierce the ignorance with the bright beams of the Son of Righteousness. His voice will give assurance, “Lo I am with you alway, even to the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20). The fact is to be ever kept before us, we are carrying forward the warfare in the presence of an invisible world.—Letter 51, 1895.

Further Reflection: My weakness will find supernatural strength in every stern conflict to do the deeds of Omnipotence. What deeds of Omnipotence do I want to do for God today?

From Jesus, Name Above All Names