October 20, 1904

Liberality

EGW

There are many clear and striking promises to the liberal. “The liberal soul shall be made fat; and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.” “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase; so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”PUR October 20, 1904, par. 1

Brethren and sisters, try the experiment. Be liberal in your dealing with the Lord's work, and especially in your dealings with the work among the colored people in the southern field. Again and again the Lord has laid before you the needs of this field, but how much have you done to hold up the hands of those who are laboring there? What have you done all these years in return for the blessings God has given you?PUR October 20, 1904, par. 2

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” “If any man will to do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself.” Will you put your whole heart into the prayer for these blessings?PUR October 20, 1904, par. 3

Take the Bible as your rule of life. Act upon it. Receive the Word of God into good and honest hearts, and see if it will not be to you as the leaves of the tree of life. It will give you physical and spiritual health. Think of the blessing you can be to those who are restless and unhappy because they are too busy to wear Christ's yoke, too busy to be God's helping hand. You may be God's epistles, known and read of all men. Will you try it? Will you prove God?PUR October 20, 1904, par. 4

“What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”PUR October 20, 1904, par. 5

My brethren and sisters, will you help to advance the work in the Southern field? The needs of this field have often been placed before our people, but there are many who have done very little to help. Prejudice has existed in the minds of some against those who have been working far beyond their strength to carry forward the work in this field. Those who have given place to unbelief and criticism are under the rebuke of God for every word they have spoken to discourage the workers, and to create prejudice against them. Doing nothing themselves, they have blocked the wheels, so that others could not advance.PUR October 20, 1904, par. 6

God has a controversy with many of His people. The time of the end is near. Warning after warning has been given. Unless God's people heed these messages, the Spirit of the Lord will leave them to their own ways, to be filled with the fruit of their own doings.PUR October 20, 1904, par. 7

God will send us direct and practical tests, to teach us, if we will be taught, the benefits of faith. He has no use for man-made tests. The tests that He has given are sufficient.PUR October 20, 1904, par. 8

What are we to do in order to gain an increase of faith? “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteousness man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”PUR October 20, 1904, par. 9

My brethren and sisters, the work among the colored people needs your help. This work has been started, but it needs much financial assistance in order to stand where it should. Prove the Lord, and see if He will not pour you out a blessing so abundant that there shall not be room enough to receive it.PUR October 20, 1904, par. 10

Ellen G. White