In the teachings of Christ He said: “If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?” The spiritual health and prosperity of the church is dependent in a great degree upon her systematic benevolence. It is like the lifeblood which must flow through the whole being, vitalizing every member of the body. It increases love for the souls of our fellow men; for by self-denial and self-sacrifice we are brought into a closer relation to Christ, who for our sakes became poor. The more we invest in the cause of God to aid in the salvation of souls, the closer to our hearts will they be brought. Were our numbers half as large, and all of these devoted workers, we should have a power that would make the world tremble. To the active workers Christ has addressed these words: “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” {3T 405.2}

I sin undervisning sagde Kristus: »Hvis l altså ikke har været tro med den uretfærdige mammon, hvem vil så betro jer den rette.« Menighedens fremgang og åndelige sundhed er for en stor del afhængig af dens systematiske godgørenhed. Denne er ligesom livsblodet, der må gennemstrømme hele organismen og give liv til hvert lem på legemet. Den forøger kærligheden til vore medmenneskers sjæle; for ved selvfornægtelse og selvopofrelse bringes vi i et inderligere forhold til Kristus, som for vor skyld blev fattig. Jo mere vi yder til Guds sag for at bidrage til sjæles frelse, desto nærmere kommer de til vor hjerter. Dersom vort antal var halvt så stort og alle disse var gudhengivne arbejdere, ville vi besidde en kraft, som ville få verden til at ryste. Til de virksomme arbejdere har Kristus udtalt disse ord: (406) »Se, jeg er med jer alle dage indtil verdens ende.«