The Review and Herald
January 4, 1881
The New Year
We should invite our brethren and sisters of other churches, not only in Michigan but in the different States, to consider our situation at Battle Creek. Our institutions being located here, this is a place of no small importance to our cause. In so large a church, there are many more demands for means than in the smaller churches. Many of your poor, your unfortunate, your sick, have for some reason located here. Our College is no financial benefit to the cause in this place, for at this late date it has a heavy debt, which is carried by the Review Office. Yet those who live at a distance are really as much benefited by the College as are our people at Battle Creek. RH January 4, 1881, par. 1
The house in which we worshiped for a number of years would have accommodated our people in this city. But our congregations have rapidly increased in size since the establishment of the College. Families moved to Battle Creek to educate their children, and students came in to attend the school. These additions, with the patients who came to the Sanitarium, made it a positive necessity to build a larger house of worship. To meet the demands created by the presence of our institutions here, the Tabernacle was erected. It is a commodious building, yet is not extravagant in its design or workmanship. Nothing less than this, in architecture or expense, would we desire to offer to our God as his house. RH January 4, 1881, par. 2
The erection of this building necessarily required a large outlay of means. Battle Creek, a poor church, has lifted the load nobly; others in the different States have responded to the calls made; and yet our house of worship is encumbered with a debt, which is also carried by the Review Office. This debt should be lifted. Will our brethren and sisters help us at this time? RH January 4, 1881, par. 3
In the interchange of presents at the commencement of the new year, we trust that our people, not only at Battle Creek but in all other places, will remember the wants of God's cause. The Lord is not honored by the practice of bestowing costly presents upon a few favorites because it is the custom. These favorites are seldom the Lord's poor. There are but few whose chief interest at this holiday season is to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and lift up the discouraged and oppressed. Many are really perplexed to decide what gifts they can select that will give pleasure to those who are abundantly supplied with the good things of this life. Let the money usually expended for these gifts, flow into the Lord's treasury. When tempted to purchase expensive ornaments, or other needless articles to please the eye and indulge the fancy, let every one ask himself, “Can I do this to the glory of God, or is it merely to please my friends?” How many, at the commencement of the new year, consider their indebtedness to God while they are making their holiday presents? RH January 4, 1881, par. 4
There is no harm in presenting to our friends gifts which they really need. But I entreat you, my brethren and sisters, do not, because it is the custom, bestow gifts upon those who have no real need, while you do little for the poor, and entirely neglect to make your offerings to God. All that we possess belongs to God, and he has made us his stewards. Let us not expend our means for idols to please the fancy and engage the affection of our friends, while we at the same time neglect our best Friend,—the one to whom we owe everything. RH January 4, 1881, par. 5
I plead with our brethren and sisters everywhere in behalf of our Tabernacle. In this building, students and visitors from all parts of the country assemble weekly to listen to the word of God. It is the duty of other churches to help us in our efforts in this missionary field. The selfish and stingy may say, “I am tired of this continual solicitation for means; will it never cease?” No, never, never! until Christ shall clothe himself in garments of vengeance, and the fiat shall go forth from his lips, He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still. RH January 4, 1881, par. 6
When our Heavenly Benefactor forgets our returning wants; when God forgets to be gracious, and none of his gifts flow into our barns, our granaries, and our cellars,—then may we plead an excuse for withholding our offerings. God has never left us without expressions of his love, “in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” He has declared that “while the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease.” He guards us every moment by his care, and upholds us by his power. He sends us the cheering sunshine, and the invigorating air; our path is crowded with the tokens of his everlasting love. He spreads our tables with food; he gives us rest and sleep. Weekly he brings to us the Sabbath, the day which he has blessed and sanctified for the good of man. We enjoy freedom from the world's hurry and bustle and wearisome labor, and may worship God in his house according to the dictates of our own conscience, with none to molest, or make afraid. The prophets and apostles suffered torture and death for their religion; but there is no gaping prison or cruel rack awaiting us for our fidelity to God. And as oft as we lift our hearts to him with true penitence and faith, he opens to us the windows of Heaven and gives us the blessings of his grace. Goodness and mercy constantly surround us. RH January 4, 1881, par. 7
God has given us his holy word to be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. As we peruse its teachings, we find ourselves addressed in counsels of wisdom: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” The lesson is repeated to us, both by the word of God and by his providence, “Freely ye have received, freely give,”—give to help the needy, and to sustain the cause of God. The Lord's claims upon us are paramount to all others. We are not to consecrate to him what may remain after all our imaginary wants have been satisfied; but before supplying our own needs, we should present to him the portion which he has specified. And in addition to all this, the thank-offering is of perpetual obligation. RH January 4, 1881, par. 8
Our Redeemer has set us an example in his own life, and we are required to be merciful to our fellow-men as he has been merciful to us, needy, dependent creatures of his care. The calls for our beneficence are from God. He works continuously for us, and he requires us to work continually for his cause. When we wish the Infinite Father to withhold from us his gifts, then it will be more reasonable to inquire, “Is there no end of giving?” RH January 4, 1881, par. 9
When Mary poured the precious ointment on Jesus’ head, our Lord commended the act, and also said, “Ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will, ye may do them good.” In this instance, Christ teaches his followers that they should bless the needy with their substance and render back to God in gifts and offerings the blessings he has bestowed upon them. RH January 4, 1881, par. 10
I counsel you, my brethren and sisters, to commence the new year with a clean record. For the truth's sake and for Christ's sake, make every effort in your power to right your wrongs. Search your hearts critically, analyze your feelings, and remove every cause of dissension. If you have defrauded your brother, angels have written it against you. If you have failed to make his case your own, and to manifest toward him tenderness and compassion, you have neglected your duty, and thus it stands registered against you. Whatever have been the mistakes and errors of the past year, let them be canceled now; let them not be brought into the new year, to mar the purity of its unwritten pages. Come to the Lord with hearts overflowing with thankfulness for past and present mercies, and manifest your appreciation of God's bounties by bringing to him your thank-offerings, your freewill-offerings, and your trespass offerings. RH January 4, 1881, par. 11
The Chinese new year is sacredly kept for one week, with great ceremony. Old debts are paid, old grudges are forgiven. If an individual cannot pay his debts, his fellow-Chinamen assist him, so that old accounts may not be carried into the new year. They say Joss (their god) will be angry with them if they neglect this work. Although these heathen are ignorant of the true God, yet in these things their example is worthy of imitation, even by Christians. RH January 4, 1881, par. 12
The worshipers of idols should not be in advance of the children of the living God. Shall not faults be confessed, and differences be put away, before we enter upon the new year? Oh that in every church in our land there might be a settlement of old difficulties, that jealousies and wrongs between brethren might be made right! Would not the world's Redeemer and the holy angels look down upon such a scene with pleasure? Would not the heavenly arches ring with the sweet music, Peace on earth, good-will to men? Let us try to set things in order among us, that we may have the approbation of Heaven. Let us bring all our tithes into the store-house, and prove our Lord therewith, and see if he will not open the windows of Heaven, and pour us out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it. RH January 4, 1881, par. 13
I advise my brethren and sisters to supply themselves the coming year with a home missionary box, wherein to deposit small bits of money for offerings to God, besides the regular tithe. Whenever there is an extra outlay for the gratification of the appetite, let an equal amount also be dropped into this savings-bank. The sisters should have a separate box; and for every needless expenditure for ribbons, ruffles, or ornaments of any kind, they should drop the same amount into this receptacle. Let parents prepare a box for each of their children, and after explaining the principle, leave them with their conscience and their God. RH January 4, 1881, par. 14
Old and young frequently expend means for candies and other hurtful indulgences, and for dainties of which they have no real need. Let them put the same amount into these savings banks the coming year, and they will be surprised at the result. They will find quite a sum, which represents that which they have thoughtlessly squandered to please the taste and gratify pride, when had they practiced self-denial, they would have had for benevolent purposes an amount just double that which they have saved. RH January 4, 1881, par. 15
As Christians, let us show our faith by our works; and at the commencement of the year, let us enter upon a course of action which will meet the approval of God. Do not neglect to provide yourselves and your children with the little banks. The very fact that for every penny needlessly expended another must be deposited here, will prevent many an unnecessary outlay. RH January 4, 1881, par. 16
I now ask my brethren and sisters for a New Year's present, not for myself, but for the cause of God. This request will reach many after the new year has come in, but I trust they will not excuse themselves, thinking that it is too late to present their offerings. Let your gifts come in during the entire month of January; and if you cannot command the means now, send in your pledges, stating what you will do, and then redeem these pledges as soon as possible. RH January 4, 1881, par. 17
I appeal to the congregation that regularly assemble at our Tabernacle: Will you not bring in your offerings to lift the debt from the Lord's house? I appeal to those who send their children to Battle Creek, where they unite with us in the worship of God: Will you not assist us to lift this debt? I invite all to be especially liberal at this time. Let cheerful freewill-offerings be brought to the Lord, let us consecrate to Him all that we are, and all that we have, and then may we all unite to swell the songs, RH January 4, 1881, par. 18
“Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.”
RH January 4, 1881, par. 19