The created works of God are a pictured history of ministry. The sun is doing its appointed work in ministering to all animate and inanimate nature. It causes the trees to grow, and yield their blessings in fruit. It causes vegetation to flourish for the benefit of man. The moon also has its mission. It makes light in the night-time for our happiness, and the stars also are marshalled in the heavens to minister to the enjoyment of the world. The appointment of these silent watchers we none of us can fully understand; but they all have their work of ministry.PrT May 13, 1897, par. 1

The deep waters, too, have their place in God's great plan. The mountains and rocks are subjects for meditation, and contain lessons for the student. Everything in nature,—the humblest flower, and the grass that carpets the earth with its green velvet covering,— proclaims the goodness and love of God to man.PrT May 13, 1897, par. 2

These things of God's creation have their foundation in the plans and methods of Deity. His thoughts and works are so connected the one with the other, that we can read in nature the great love of God for a fallen world. The universe contains one great masterpiece of infinite wisdom in the innumerable diversities of His great works which, in their matchless variety, form a perfect whole.PrT May 13, 1897, par. 3

By close investigation, God's innumerable providences in the natural world are found to have connection one with another, and in tracing these links in the chain of providence, we are led to become better acquainted with the Great Centre. This is a truth worthy of our careful study. Jesus Christ is the one great Unity; He possesses the attributes that harmonise all diversities. And He, the gift above all others, was given to our world to give expression to the mind and character of God, that every intelligent being, if he will, may see God in the revelation of His Son.PrT May 13, 1897, par. 4

All these things were given by God to the human family. Have you considered these things? Have you looked upon God's created works as prepared by His hand to minister to the happiness of man? Out of His own fulness, God has ministered to you in providing you with food and clothing. He has given you all the blessings of life.PrT May 13, 1897, par. 5

“How much owest thou unto my Lord?” Shall we receive every blessing from the hand of God, and yet make no returns to Him,—not even in giving Him our tithe, the portion which He has reserved unto Himself? It has become customary to turn everything out of the true line of self-sacrifice into the path of self-pleasing. But shall we continually receive His favours with indifference, and make no response to His love?PrT May 13, 1897, par. 6

“Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed Me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed Thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.” Mal. iii. 8-11.PrT May 13, 1897, par. 7

Will you, dear parents, become missionaries in your home? Will you make personal efforts for the salvation of your children? Will you, as you have never done before, teach them the precious lessons of making gifts to the Lord by putting into the treasury of that which He has freely given them to enjoy? Whatever we have received, let a portion be returned to the Giver as a gratitude offering. A part should also be put into the treasury for the missionary work to be done both at home and abroad.PrT May 13, 1897, par. 8

The cause of God should lie very near our hearts. The light of truth which has been a blessing to one family, will, if communicated by parents and children, prove as great a blessing to other families also. But when God's bounties, so richly and abundantly given, are withheld from Him, and selfishly bestowed upon ourselves, God's curse, in the place of His blessing, will surely be experienced; for this the Lord has declared. God's claim is to take the precedence of any other claim, and must be discharged first. Then the poor and needy are to be cared for. These must not be neglected, at whatever cost or sacrifice to ourselves.PrT May 13, 1897, par. 9

“That there may be meat in Mine house.” It is our duty to be temperate in all things, in eating, in drinking, and in dressing. Our buildings and the furnishing of our homes should be carefully considered, with the heart's desire to render to God His own, not only in tithes, but as far as possible, in gifts and offerings also. Very many might be laying up for themselves treasures in heaven, by keeping the Lord's storehouse supplied with the portion He claims as His own, and with their gifts and offerings.PrT May 13, 1897, par. 10

Those who are honestly inquiring what God wants of them in regard to the property they claim as their own, should search the Old Testament Scriptures, and see what Christ, the invisible Leader of Israel in their long wilderness journey, directed His people to do in this respect. We should individually be willing to be put to any inconvenience, to be brought into any straits, rather than rob God of the portion that should come into His house. Those who are Bible readers and Bible believers will have an intelligent knowledge of “What saith the Lord” in this matter.PrT May 13, 1897, par. 11

In that day when every man shall be judged according to the deeds done in the body, every excuse that selfishness may now make for withholding the tithe, the gifts, and offerings from the Lord, will melt away as the dew before the sun. If it were not for ever too late, how glad would many be to go back, and build their characters over again. But it will be too late then to change the record of the weekly, monthly, and yearly robbery that has been practised toward God. Their destiny is fixed, unalterably fixed. On such a year, the name of one is mentioned, and his record stands: The selfish heart considered self more than that which is due to his God, more than the souls for whom Christ has died.PrT May 13, 1897, par. 12

Selfishness is a deadly evil. Self love, careless indifference to the specific terms of agreement between God and man, the refusal to act as His faithful stewards, has brought upon many His curse, just as He declared, would be the case. These souls have separated themselves from God; by precept and example they have led others to disregard God's plain commandments, and He could not bestow His blessing upon them.PrT May 13, 1897, par. 13

The Lord has specified: The tenth of all your possessions is Mine; your gifts and offerings are to be brought into the treasury, to be used to advance My cause, to send the living preacher to open the Scriptures to those who sit in darkness.PrT May 13, 1897, par. 14

Then will anyone run the risk of withholding from God His own, doing as did the unfaithful servant who hid his Lord's money in the earth? Shall we, as did this man, seek to justify our unfaithfulness by complaining of God, saying, “Lord, I knew Thee that Thou art an hard man, reaping where Thou hast not sown, and gathering where Thou hast not strawed; and I was afraid, and went and hid Thy talent in the earth: lo, here Thou hast that is Thine”? Shall we not rather present our gratitude offerings to God?PrT May 13, 1897, par. 15

Mrs. E. G. White.

March 4, 1897

January 12, 1899