The Signs of the Times
December 24, 1896
The Test of Christian Life
The Bible is an unerring guide for man in every phase of life. In it the conditions of eternal life are plainly stated. The distinction between right and wrong is clearly defined, and sin is shown in its most revolting character, clothed with the robes of death. If this guide is studied and obeyed, it is to us as the pillar of cloud, which led the children of Israel through the wilderness; but if it is ignored and disobeyed, it will witness against us in the day of judgment. God will judge all by his word; according as they have fulfilled or disregarded its requirements, they will stand or fall. ST December 24, 1896, par. 1
The Bible demands that right principles be observed in all business transactions. In the strongest terms it condemns false dealing, and calls for purity in thought and word and action. “Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassion every man to his neighbor. And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in his heart.” “What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” ST December 24, 1896, par. 2
“All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,” said Christ, “do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.” These words are of the highest importance, and should be our rule of life. But do we carry out this divine principle? Do we, when brought into contact with our fellow men, deal with them just as we would desire them to deal with us in similar circumstances? ST December 24, 1896, par. 3
God tests men by their daily life. But many who make high professions of service to him, can not bear this test. In their eagerness for gain they use false weights and deceitful balances. The Bible is not made their rule of life, and therefore they do not see the necessity of strict integrity and faithfulness. Anxious to amass wealth, they allow scheming dishonesty to come into their work. The world watches their conduct, and is not slow to measure their Christian worth by their business dealings. God sees their dishonesty, too, and he asks: “Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?” “Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail, saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the Sabbath, that we may set forth, wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit? that we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat? The Lord hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works.” “A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight.” ST December 24, 1896, par. 4
God's children should remember that by their conduct in business deal they are deciding whether or not they are entitled to be called his sons and daughters. We determine the character of a tree by its fruits, and Christ said of men: “By their fruits ye shall know them.” “Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.” If we allow unfaithfulness to characterize our work, we are bearing briers and thorns. While we continue in this way, we can not truly serve the Lord, and we can never hope to enter his kingdom. ST December 24, 1896, par. 5
It is not the greatness of the offense that makes it wrong in the sight of God. He has established principles of justice which he can not change without changing his whole nature; and the least departure from truth and rectitude is looked upon as a transgression of the law of God. The man who will overreach his fellow man in small matters, will, under stronger temptation, overreach him in greater matters. By continued indulgence in petty sins, men become accustomed to wrong-doing. In their eyes, sin loses its exceeding sinfulness; but holy angels, whose work it is to watch the development of character, and weigh moral worth, make a record of every transgression in the books of heaven. In the day of judgment many will be shut out of the city of God by sins which they supposed to be unworthy of notice. ST December 24, 1896, par. 6
When pecuniary gain is involved, one act of dishonesty is not thought to be so sinful. But those who secure property by false representation bring condemnation on themselves. And the Bible always tells the same story. With it sin is always sin, whether committed by the possessor of millions or by the beggar in the streets. Better a life of deepest poverty crowned with God's blessings, than all the world's treasure without it. We may be very rich; but unless we have the consciousness that God honors us, we are poor indeed. ST December 24, 1896, par. 7
Men may claim to be true servants of God, but if they swerve from the path of uprightness, deformity and impurity still exist in their character. They may try to appear what they are not; they may talk of the mercy and love of Jesus; but their words are as “sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.” They may be blinded to the guile in their hearts, and may think themselves righteous; but in the eyes of a holy God they are in the bonds of iniquity. ST December 24, 1896, par. 8
Christ defined an honest man as one who would manifest unbending integrity in all his business transactions, whether his course brought loss or gain to him. And the man who is indeed connected with God, who keeps his law in truth, also keeps his life pure. His plans are in harmony with the lessons of Christ; his words and actions are approved by a just God; for all his dealings with his fellow men show uprightness. His principles are based upon the sure foundation, and his conduct in worldly matters is a transcript of the principles that govern him. His unbending integrity shines forth as a light in the moral darkness of the world. ST December 24, 1896, par. 9
He who would be a faithful servant of Christ, must listen to the instruction of the greatest Teacher the world has ever known. His ideas and principles must be kept pure by the power of God. Every day he must learn to become more worthy of the trust committed to him. His mind must be quickened by divine power; his character uncontaminated by worldliness. At times he must turn aside from active life to commune with God, to hear his voice saying, “Be still, and know that I am God.” The truth as it is in Jesus must be brought into his place of business; its searching maxims must try the purposes of his soul; its principles must be applied to every transaction. The Christian who is thus sanctified to God can take Jesus with him wherever he goes. No guile is found in his mouth; for his affections are placed on things above; not on the things of this earth. He is indeed a light in the world, a living epistle, “known and read of all men.” ST December 24, 1896, par. 10
Ever be true to right principles. Do not disconnect from them for a moment; if they are inwrought with all you do, they will be life to your soul, abiding with you in all your difficulties, witnessing to all your business transactions, guiding you in all the relations of life, controlling in places where no eye but God's sees, no ear but God's hears. If you hold fast your integrity under all circumstances, you may know that God's signature is upon your work. ST December 24, 1896, par. 11
Then, tho you may hear of wars and pestilences, of thefts, robberies, and bankruptcies, you may rest in the assurance that you possess true riches; for your treasure is laid up in heaven, “where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” ST December 24, 1896, par. 12