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FOR CHRIST'S SAKE

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 2, 1869

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 33, No. 6.

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FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.

By Mary Stratton

What have I done for Christ's sake? I have done a great many things for the people of God, but have I done them for Christ's sake? If not I shall lose my reward. While looking over the past I can see that there has been too much selfishness in my heart. The Lord could not do much for me, I have superseded the necessity of that, by taking such good care of myself. I have not always done all I could to help the sick and the poor, have not denied myself of food and raiment necessary for my comfort, to help others who were more needy.
A sacrifice that does not cost anything will not be acceptable to God. If it should be my lot to die before the Lord comes, I do not care to be missed in the halls of the rich, but I do care to be missed in the humble cots of the poor. It is a libel on Christianity, a reproach on every member of the church of Christ when one among us suffers for the comforts of life, while we are surrounded with plenty. The precepts of our blessed Lord will have to be spiritualized to a great extent if we cannot there learn our duty. He everywhere speaks of the poor with the greatest sympathy and affection, while of the rich he says, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God.
If we have a religion that does not teach us to look well to the wants of the poor, we may be sure it is spurious. James gives us the best definition of pure and undefiled religion in the whole Bible. There is no alloy here. He says it is pure. If we have been bought with a price, and are the property of another, it is not ours to say what we shall do with what he gives me in charge, but just to ascertain what our Master requires, and then do it with all our hearts.
May the Lord ever help us thus to do. MARY STRATTON.