ECONOMY | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 24, 1869

ECONOMY.

One of the most frequent causes of poverty is the want of economy. When persons in the vigor of their strength are in straitened, and impoverished circumstances, it is almost always the result of wasteful habits in some direction. Sometimes, indeed, persons are reduced to poverty by some accidental cause, as that of fire, or robbery, or the like. But I speak of those cases in which no such cause exists. There is no merit in that poverty which is the result of wastefulness. It is the duty of every person to whom God has given talents of health, and strength, to use them so that he can earn something with which to help himself and those dependent upon him, and to sustain the cause of God. But many persons who could do this if they only acted as they should, are all the time where they want the help of their brethren who have some means. And they seem to think that they are the poor whom God has chosen to inherit his kingdom; and their brethren are the rich upon whom the woe of the Bible rests, unless they proceed to divide what property they have with them. They are not thankful when favors are generously bestowed; for the brethren who thus give, have not done near all their duty. They covet the means in the hands of those who have some property, yet think that such are covetous because they do not divide with them. It is certainly no time for men to lay up treasures upon earth. But men who have money must not only give account as to how much they give, but to whom they give, and why they give it. They should, indeed, relieve present and immediate distress even to those who suffer from their own lack of economy and right action. But beyond this they should not go far; for their means for which they must give account to God, can be used other ways more to his glory.

Wastefulness is wicked. It is a religious duty to learn economy, and to practice it in our lives. One of the greatest wastes in the life of those who are poor by their own fault, is the waste of time. If they can earn large wages they will work; otherwise they will do nothing. So in the course of one year they allow weeks of time to be wasted in idleness. This is a sin against God, and a disgrace to themselves. Time is the most valuable commodity that God has intrusted to us. Our first use of it should be to worship God. Prayer, self-examination, and the reading of the Bible, and attendance upon the worship of God, are duties to be first provided for. Then out of our remaining time a needful portion for rest; and then the balance should be employed in honest industry.

Suppose a man cannot get high wages; shall he therefore sit down in idleness? By no means. It is a wicked waste of time. Idle men always backslide. They have plenty of time to become envious, jealous, or careless in their duty toward God, and they are sure to fall into sin of some kind. They should realize that active employment is a safeguard against many sins. If they cannot earn $2.00 per day, then earn $1.00. If they cannot earn $1.00, then 50 cts. Better by far to earn ten cents each day, and your board, than to spend the day in idleness, eating up that which you have already earned. You certainly can find employment. You can always find something if you will take the wages which that work commands. There is no city or village in which such work as wood-sawing cannot be obtained. Suppose the pay is small, you need not work at it only till you can get more profitable employment. But till then, take hold of the work and earn something. You need the employment to keep from backsliding. There is always something ill, says Dr. Watts, for idle hands to do. You will thus pay your way, and earn something. You will have done what you could. Your example will not be one of idleness, but one of active industry. You will never waste in foolish expenditure money earned in this manner. And I will venture to assert that no man will long be poor who will combine this kind of industry with abstinence from the purchase of things which he does not need. Any man who will combine these two things, active industry, and abstinence from the purchase of unnecessary articles, will soon be surrounded with plenty; and from being in that condition that he envies those that have means, and covets it at their hands, he will be able himself to do something for those in real need. In fact, he will find the truth of the words of the Lord Jesus, that it is more blessed to give than to receive. But Solomon says, Prov. xviii, 9, “He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.” And nothing is more certain than that those who waste their time in waiting for something to turn up, will have poverty enough. Time is too valuable to have one moment wasted. It is a shame to be poor and unable to help those who really need help, when it is our own laziness and wastefulness that makes us such. Idle men are Satan’s laborers. One grand cause why Israel did so fearfully backslide in the wilderness, was that they had nothing to do. Their bread was rained from Heaven, and so they had nothing to do but to open their mouths in murmuring against God. Far better for them to have earned their bread at ten cents a day. Beware of idleness. God will call you into account for your time, and your example.