Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 20 (1905)

Lt 283, 1905

Wade, Brother; Hill, Brother

“Elmshaven,” St. Helena, California

October 10, 1905

Portions of this letter are published in 6Bio 42-43. +^Note

Doctors Wade and Hill

Dear Brethren,—

The Lord has repeatedly instructed me to say to His people that they are not to bind up with the world in business partnerships of any kind, and especially in so important a matter as the establishment of a sanitarium. Believers and unbelievers, serving two masters, cannot properly be linked together in the Lord’s work. “How can two walk together, except they be agreed?” [Amos 3:3.] God forbids His people to unite with unbelievers in the building up of His institutions. 20LtMs, Lt 283, 1905, par. 1

One of the dangers to be met, if we should link up with unbelievers, is that we cannot depend upon the opinions and judgment, regarding the sacred interests of the Lord’s work, of men who, with the Bible open before them, are living in open transgression of the law of God. We cannot depend upon them, because the enemy of Christ influences their minds. They may be ever so favorable to our work now, but in the future there will come times of crisis; and then our people will be brought into a position of extreme trial, if they are bound up in any way with the worldlings. Our people may think that they can guard against these difficulties that would naturally arise in their union with worldlings, but in this they will be disappointed. 20LtMs, Lt 283, 1905, par. 2

In connection with any combination with outside parties, there will be disappointment. It behooves us to move very guardedly, for thereby we shall save ourselves much burden and trouble; for the light given me is that to link up with them, and to lean upon them, is folly and disappointment. 20LtMs, Lt 283, 1905, par. 3

My counsel to you is, Wait. Wait until the Lord shall manifest Himself in a more distinct and striking manner than He has done. Guard first against any union with unbelievers, and second against any union of men who are not under discipline to the great Head, the great Medical Missionary. No one should engage in the sacred work of conducting a sanitarium until self is hid with Christ in God. 20LtMs, Lt 283, 1905, par. 4

Our health institutions are of value in the Lord’s estimation only when He is allowed to preside in their management. If His plans and devisings are regarded as inferior to plans of men, He looks upon these institutions as of no more value than the institutions established and conducted by worldlings. God cannot endorse any institution, unless it teaches the living principles of His law and brings its own actions into strict conformity to these precepts. Upon those institutions that are not maintained according to His law, He pronounces the sentence, “Unaccepted. Weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, and found wanting.” [See Daniel 5:27.] 20LtMs, Lt 283, 1905, par. 5

The man at the head of any work in God’s cause is to be a man of intelligence, a man capable of managing large interests successfully, a man of even temper, Christlike forbearance, and perfect self-control. He only whose heart is transformed by the grace of Christ can be a proper leader. 20LtMs, Lt 283, 1905, par. 6

Christ is our model of religious life. Was there selfishness in Him? He laid aside His riches in the heavenly courts, that He might restore man from sin to righteousness. The apostle Paul sums up His character in the words: He “pleased not Himself.” [Romans 15:3.] He has left us an example of humility. He has shown that it is possible to live in this world a holy and unselfish life. 20LtMs, Lt 283, 1905, par. 7

The apostle admonishes us: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice unto God, which is your reasonable service.” [Romans 12:1.] “Ye are not your own. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” [1 Corinthians 6:19, 20.] 20LtMs, Lt 283, 1905, par. 8