O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own. 1 Chronicles 29:16.

In building the temple, the call for means met with a hearty response. The people did not give reluctantly; they rejoiced in the prospect of a building being erected for the worship of God. They donated more than enough for the purpose. David blessed the Lord before all the congregation, and said, “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.” …

David well understood from whom came all his bounties. Would that those of this day who rejoice in a Savior’s love could realize that their silver and gold is the Lord’s, and should be used to promote His glory, not grudgingly retained to enrich and gratify themselves. He has an indisputable right to all that He has lent His creatures. All that they possess is His.

There are high and holy objects that require means; thus invested, it will yield to the giver more elevated and permanent enjoyment than if expended in personal gratification or selfishly hoarded for the greed of gain….

Many selfishly retain their means and soothe their conscience with a plan for doing some great thing for the cause of God after their death. They make a will donating a large sum to the church and its various interests, and then settle down with a feeling that they have done all that is required of them. Wherein have they denied self by this act? They have, on the contrary, exhibited only selfishness. When they have no further use for their money, they propose to give it to God. But they will retain it as long as they can, till they are compelled to relinquish it by a messenger that cannot be turned down.

God has made us all His stewards, and in no case authorized us to neglect our duty or leave it for others to do. The call for means to advance the cause of truth will never be more urgent than now. Our money will never do a greater amount of good than at the present time…. If we leave others to accomplish that which God has left for us to do, we wrong ourselves and Him who gave us all we have…. God would have all be executors of their own will in this matter, during their lifetime.—The Review and Herald, October 17, 1882.

From From the Heart

“Let neither man nor woman do any more work for the offering of the sanctuary.” And the people were restrained from bringing. Exodus 36:6.

Under the Jewish system, the people were required to cherish a spirit of liberality, both in sustaining the cause of God and in supplying the wants of the needy. At the harvest and the vintage, the firstfruits of the fields—corn, wine, and oil—were to be consecrated as an offering to the Lord. The gleanings and the corners of the fields were reserved for the poor. The firstfruits of the wool when the sheep were shorn, of the grain when the wheat was threshed, were to be offered to the Lord; and at the feast it was commanded that the poor, the widows, the orphans, and the strangers should be invited. At the close of every year all were required to make solemn oath whether or not they had done according to the command of God.

This arrangement was made by the Lord to impress upon the people that in every matter He must be first. They were, by this system of benevolence, reminded that their gracious Master was the true proprietor of their fields, their flocks, and their herds, that the God of heaven sent them sunshine and rain for their seed-time and harvest, and that everything which they possessed was of His creation. All was the Lord’s, and He had made them stewards of His goods.

The liberality of the Jews in the construction of the tabernacle evinced a spirit of benevolence which has not been equaled by the people of God at any later date. The Hebrews had just been freed from their long bondage in Egypt, they were wanderers in the wilderness; yet scarcely were they delivered from the armies of the Egyptians who pursued them in their hasty journey, when the word of the Lord came to Moses, “Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.” …

All gave with a willing hand, not a certain amount of their increase, but a large portion of their actual possessions. They devoted it gladly and heartily to the Lord. They honored Him by so doing. Was it not all His? Had He not given them all that they possessed? If He called for it, was it not their duty to give back to the lender His own? No urging was needed. The people brought even more than was required; and they were told to desist, for there was already more than could be appropriated.—The Review and Herald, October 17, 1882.

From From the Heart

The world is Mine, and all its fullness. Psalm 50:12.

The end of all things is at hand, and what is done for the salvation of souls must be done quickly. For this reason we are establishing institutions for the dissemination of the truth through the press, for the education of the young, and for the recovery of the sick. But the selfish and money-loving inquire, “What is the use of all this, when time is so short? Is it not a contradiction of our faith to spend so much in publishing houses, schools, and health institutions?” We ask in reply, If time is to continue but a few years, why invest so much in houses and lands, or in needless and extravagant display, while so meager a sum is devoted to the work of preparation for the great event before us? …

With God’s blessing, the power of the press can hardly be overestimated…. Let the publishing houses be sustained, and the message of truth be sent out to all the nations of the earth.

Schools have been established that our youth and children may receive the education and discipline needed to prepare them for the searching test so soon to come to every soul. In these schools the Bible should be made one of the principal subjects of study. Attention should be given to the development of both the moral and intellectual powers. We hope that in these schools many earnest workers may be prepared to carry the light of truth to those who sit in darkness.

In a health institution we provide a place where the sick can enjoy the benefit of nature’s remedial agents, instead of depending upon deadly drugs. And many who thus find relief will be ready to yield to the influence of the truth….

Wealth is a great blessing if used according to the will of God. But the selfish heart can make the possession of wealth a heavy curse…. The ones who obtain the most real enjoyment in this life are those who use God’s bounty and do not abuse it….

God is the rightful owner of the universe. All things belong to Him. Every blessing which men and women enjoy is the result of divine beneficence…. He justly bids us consecrate to Him the first and best of His entrusted capital. If we thus acknowledge His rightful sovereignty and gracious providence, He has pledged His word that He will bless the remainder.—The Review and Herald, May 16, 1882.

From From the Heart

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10.

Many who profess the special truths for our time have not a proper discernment of character. They fail to appreciate moral worth. They may boast much of their fidelity to the cause of God and their knowledge of the Scriptures, but they are not humble in heart. They have a special regard for those who are wealthy and prosperous, forgetting that riches do not give us favor with God. True excellence of character is frequently overlooked if possessed by the poor. Money sways a mighty influence. But does God care for money—for property? The cattle upon a thousand hills are His, the world and all that is therein….

God has committed to His stewards means to be used in doing good, and thus securing a treasure in heaven. But if, like the man who had one talent, they hide their means, fearing that God will receive that which belongs to Him, they will not only lose the increase which will finally be awarded the faithful steward, but also the principal which God gave them to work upon….

The great apostle, in his letter to Timothy, would impress upon his mind the necessity of giving such instruction as should remove the deception which so easily steals upon the rich—that because of their ability to acquire wealth they are superior in wisdom and judgment to those who are in poverty, that gain is godliness….

Individuals may devote their whole lives to the one object of acquiring riches, yet as they brought nothing into the world, they can carry nothing out…. They have sacrificed noble, elevated principles, given up their faith for riches, and if not disappointed in their object, they are disappointed in the happiness they supposed wealth would bring….

The apostle shows the only true use for riches, and bids Timothy charge the rich to do good, to be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate, for in so doing they are laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come—referring to the close of time—that they may lay hold on eternal life…. Godliness with contentment is great gain. Here is the true secret of happiness, and real prosperity of soul and body.—The Review and Herald, March 4, 1880.

From From the Heart

Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. Proverbs 3:9, 10.

God is abundantly able to fulfill His promises. Every earthly good comes from His hand. The resources of the Lord are infinite, and He employs them all in accomplishing His purposes. Faithful stewards, who wisely use the goods which God has entrusted to them to advance the truth and bless suffering humanity, will be rewarded for so doing. God will pour into their hands while they dispense to others. He is advancing His cause in the earth through stewards entrusted with His capital. Some there are who, notwithstanding they greatly desire wealth, would be ruined by its possession. God has tested individuals by lending them talents of means. It was in their power to abuse the gift or use it to the glory of God…. They have been tested and proved and found unfaithful in using that which was another’s as though it was their own. God will not entrust such with the eternal riches.

Those who make a judicious and unselfish disposition of the Lord’s goods, thus identifying their interest with that of suffering humanity, will be advanced, for they act the part which God designed they should in His own system of beneficence….

Every good thing upon the earth was given to us as an expression of the love of God. He makes people His stewards and gives them talents of influence and means to use for the accomplishment of His work in the earth. Our heavenly Father proposes to connect finite human beings with Himself. As laborers they may be His instruments in the salvation of souls….

Those who walk in the light of truth will emit light to those around them. They are living witnesses for Christ. They will not be like the world, living in moral darkness, loving themselves and the things of the world, and seeking for earthly treasures….

God has made us our brother’s keeper and will hold us responsible for this great trust. God has taken us into union with Himself, and He has planned that we shall work in harmony with Him. He has provided the system of beneficence, that we whom He has made in His image may be self-denying in character, like Him whose infinite nature is love.—The Review and Herald, October 31, 1878.

From From the Heart