Unwise Investments by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 18, 1911

Unwise Investments

By F. M. W.

THIS is an age of wild speculation. Fortunes are made and lost in a day. The spirit of intensity which fills the hearts of men leads them to cast aside judgment, and permit impulse and caprice to influence decision. Many, not content with earnest, faithful plodding from year to year, in gaining a livelihood or securing a competence, seek for quicker methods and more speedy results. In every section of the country are those seeking to entrap the unwary and inexperienced, and secure from them money for the promotion of questionable enterprises. Land schemes, mining stocks, oil-wells, and scores of other enterprises are promoted, and strong appeals are made to the public to purchase gilt-edged stock, and thus take advantage of the opportunity of a lifetime to secure large returns from their investments. Not all of these enterprises are operated by dishonest men. Many promoters, no doubt, are truly seeking to carry on their business on an honest basis, and occasionally the investor realizes large profits; but the great majority meet with bitter disappointment, losing in the end the money which they have invested.

Seventh-day Adventists, above all others, should be most careful of the investment of the money of which God has made them stewards. They should not permit the enemy of their souls to mislead their judgment, and entrap them in some enterprise which will prove a source of discouragement, and rob them of the blessed privilege of doing for the cause of God what the Master desires them to do as his stewards.

From time to time, warnings have been given our people against unwise investments. The last one comes from Elder W. A. McCutchen, president of the Texas Conference. He advises our brethren and sisters to be exceedingly careful about investing in Texas land without such careful and personal investigation as will satisfy them of the safety of the enterprise. It is poor business judgment, to say the least, to invest any considerable amount of money upon the representations of others, without a personal investigation. Surely the very least our brethren can do in matters of this kind is to correspond with the president of the conference, or with some responsible brother known to them personally, and make definite inquiry with reference to the business advertised.

In this time of need, when the cause of God affords such blessed opportunity for the investment of means,—investment which, if it does not bring returns in this life in dollars and cents, will bring blessed results in soul-saving,—let none recklessly invest money in questionable enterprises. The cause of God and the institutions connected with this work afford safe investment for the loaning of money or as places of deposit. The movement represented by the third angel's message is safer than any bank. In the use of idle money, seeking a place of deposit, and above all in our gifts and donations, let us remember the crying needs of our denominational work, both at home and in the regions beyond. F. M. W.