I looked to see who of those who professed to be looking for Christ’s coming possessed a willingness to sacrifice offerings to God of their abundance. I could see a few humble poor ones who, like the poor widow, were stinting themselves and casting in their mite. Every such offering is accounted of God as precious treasure. But those who are acquiring means, and adding to their possessions, are far behind. They do comparatively nothing to what they might. They are withholding, and robbing God, for they are fearful they shall come to want. They dare not trust God. This is one of the reasons that, as a people, we are so sickly and so many are falling into their graves. The covetous are among us. Lovers of the world, also those who have stinted the laborer in his hire, are among us. Men who had none of this world, who were poor and dependent on their labor, have been dealt with closely and unjustly. The lover of the world, with a hard face and harder heart, has grudgingly paid over the small sum earned by hard toil. Just so they are dealing with their Master, whose servants they profess to be. Just in this grudging manner do they put into the treasury of God. The man in the parable had not where to bestow his goods, and the Lord cut short his unprofitable life. So will He deal with many. How difficult, in this corrupt age, to keep from growing worldly and selfish. How easy to become ungrateful to the Giver of all our mercies. Great watchfulness is needed, and much prayer, to keep the soul with all diligence. “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” {2T 198.1}

Jeg så frem for at se hvem af de trosbekendende der afventer Kristi komme der har villighed til at ofre af deres overflod til Gud. Jeg kunne se nogle få ydmyge og ringe personer der, ligesom den fattige enke, var fornægtende over for sig selv og lagde deres lille skærv i. Alle sådanne ofre regnes af (199) Gud som dyrebare rigdomme. Men dem som anskaffer sig midler og samler sig ejendomme, er langt bagefter. De gør intet i forhold hvad de skulle. De holder tilbage og frarøver Gud, for de er bange for at komme i nød. De tør ikke stole på Gud. Dette er den ene grund til at vi, som et folk, er så sygelige og så mange er faldet i deres grave. Begærligheden er blandt os. Verdenselskere er blandt os også dem som i hans tjeneste som er knappe på gerninger. Mennesker som havde intet af denne verden, som var fattige og afhængige af deres arbejde, er blevet behandlet nøjeregnende og uretfærdigt. Verdenselskeren, med en hård overflade og et hårdt hjerte, har modvilligt overbetalt den lille sum der er optjent ved hårdt slid. Præcis sådan behandler de deres Mester, hvis tjenere de bekender sig til at være. På denne modvillige måde lægger de i Guds skatkammer. Manden i lignelsen ville ikke overdrage sit gods og Herren afbrød hans nyttesløse liv. Sådan vil han gøre med mange. Hvor svært er det ikke, i denne fordærvede tidsalder, at holde sig fra blive verdslig og egenkærlig. Hvor let er det ikke at blive alle gode gavers Giver utaknemmelig. Stor årvågenhed er tiltrængt og megen bøn, for at holde sjælen i flittigt arbejde. »Pas på, vær årvågne! thi I ved ikke, når tiden er der."