Special Testimonies Concerning the Work and Workers in the Pacific Press

Working for Wages

22. With many of the workers the spirit of self-sacrifice has greatly diminished because they have lost their first love. Many are grasping for higher wages; but if they were laborers together with God, their wants would be more simple; for they spend money needlessly for things which they would not desire if their hearts were sanctified by the truth. Look at the example given to you in the life of Christ. There are those in the office who have withheld their tithes from the treasury, claiming that they could not see the requirement in the Word of God. But why could they not see it?—It was because selfishness was firmly rooted in the heart. They did not deny self, and make their offering to God. For years they have practised robbery toward God; but does not the Lord keep a record of all their doings? Most assuredly, for it is written that every man shall be rewarded according as his works have been, judged according to the deeds done in the body, whether they are good or whether they are evil. The Lord will not pass over the embezzlement of his goods. He is testing men to see who will be fit subjects for his kingdom above; for if they disregard his claims here, they will disregard them in the kingdom of heaven. Suppose that all who profess to be followers of Christ should withhold from the Lord his intrusted goods, and appropriate his talents to their own use and for the advancement of their own glory, how would the work of God move forward in the world? How would those in other nations ever receive the message of truth? The Lord does not rain down money from heaven, but he honors man by intrusting to him his treasures, and he tells him what he must do. Read carefully and prayerfully the instruction the Lord has given to you in Malachi 3:8-12. PH152 39.3