Our Duty to Those Who Have Loaned Money to the Cause
By P. T. Magan
THERE are many devoted Seventh-day Adventists who have loaned money to the cause of God. The spirit which has prompted them to do this has been born of a desire to see the work advanced. Such persons, like their brethren and sisters, have donated freely and liberally from time to time as the various calls have been made. Then in addition to this they have made great sacrifices by placing what little capital they possessed in our different institutions at a much lower rate of interest than they would receive by investing in worldly securities. Indeed there are no inconsiderable number of men and women among us who have deposited what little they possessed in some branch of the work, and have asked no interest at all. Many have been enabled to do this only by exercising constant self-denial and self-sacrifice. The wealthy among us are by no means altogether the creditors of our institutions. There are, of course, many wealthy Adventists who have come to the rescue of our different institutions in times of need with loans of large sums of money. But the majority of those who have loaned money to the cause are poor people. And God is not unrighteous to forget the work and labor of love which these have showed toward his name. To all who in sincerity of heart and unselfishness of purpose have sought to help the cause in this way God gives the precious promise: “Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.” It sometimes happens when the love of God is allowed to grow cold upon the heart’s altar, when the presence of the Holy Spirit wanes in our lives, that we cease to bring our gifts to God’s different institutions. It may be that we have become discouraged because these institutions have not been rightly managed. It may be that we withhold an offering because God in his love and tender compassion is sending messages of warning and reproof to those who are laboring in an institution. We feel, perhaps, that as long as these are not walking in the light of heaven, we do not want to place means in the work which they are striving to carry on. But how about the faithful ones who have loaned money to these institutions? Are they to be left to suffer? They have done what they could for the cause which they love. Oftentimes calamity or sickness overtakes them, and they need the little money they have invested. The father of the family may be taken away by death, and pinching want may visit the home. In order that she may keep the children clothed and fed, the mother writes to those who have charge of the funds of the cause, and asks for her small deposit. This is no imaginary picture. Such things have occurred, and will occur again. These dear brethren and sisters are bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. “Whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” All such are in verity the members of the body of Christ. Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water shall in no wise lose his reward. In the good Word of God we are admonished as we have opportunity to do good unto all men, “especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” Our brethren and sisters who have loaned money to the cause are children indeed of the household of faith. To each of us the words are spoken, “Hide not thyself from thine own flesh.” A solemn duty rests upon us to care for those within the fold, as well as those without. Doubtless almost all the readers of the REVIEW have read the article in the issue of December 3 from Sister White on “The Battle Creek College Debt and the Missionary Acre Fund.” In that article it is plainly written, “Every creditor must be paid.” To-day there are creditors of the Battle Creek College who need their money. Are there not brethren and sisters who will contribute to Christ’s cause by gift or loan, so that these can be paid? Great joy awaits those who will do this. For when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, in answer to the questions, “When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? or when saw we thee sick, . . . and came unto thee? . . . the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”