p. 8 | Character Tested by Our Gifts by R. C. Porter

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 27, 1907

Character Tested by Our Gifts

By R. C. Porter

R. C. PORTER

The history of the past shows that there is a test of character in the way the people of God relate themselves to giving for the advancement of his work, as truly as in their relation to any other of his precepts.

If when man was placed on trial in the garden of Eden, he had stood the tests brought to him, he would have been given the inheritance of the earth as an eternal possession, free from the effects of sin and the curse. His failure to pass successfully that period of trial has involved all his posterity in the results of his failure. Were it not for the fact that where sin abounds, grace does much more abound, there would be no hope that we would live unselfishly during our period of probation, since our situation is far worse than that of our first parents at the time of their failure. Satan is also more skilled by long experience in luring us into sin. We can never be sufficiently grateful that the Lord gave some one a heart so free from selfishness that home ties and self-interest did not prevent him from bringing the truth to us.

The early history of this work abounds with examples of unselfish devotion to the cause of God. The laborers were called upon to work under poverty and many other privations. Many sacrificed all to establish institutions through which to carry the work forward more rapidly. They never have had occasion to regret the sacrifices they made. The results have abundantly proved that God was leading in all these ways to hasten forward the work of the message.

We are now living where we are reaping the harvest of their sowing. God has watered the seed thus sown in tears, by unselfish hands, and though many of the laborers have fallen from excessive toil, while they rest in hope, the seed sown is springing up in all parts of the world. The work now rests upon those of us who have received the truth from these faithful pioneers. This is our day of opportunity. How shall we treat the work of God that has come into our hands at the cost of the life and sacrifice of the Son of God, and the self-sacrificing labors of martyrs and the pioneers in this work?

Ancient Israel had many in their midst who, during their day of opportunity and trial, “murmured in their tents,” and spoke against those who were leading in the work when the Lord called upon them to advance. This spirit so weakened them that they were blinded to all the opening providences of God, and when they were on the borders of the land of promise and might have gone in at once, it delayed them until their carcasses fell in the wilderness. Caleb and Joshua gave their hearts faithfully to

God, and devoted their lives to his work. They met all the experiences that the others met, but they met them in a spirit of faith and courage. Mistakes were made. They did not dwell upon the mistakes, but on the mercy and goodness of God. They did not see disaster approaching the work, but through the mighty hand of God they saw a glorious victory just before them. And they realized the victory their faith grasped.

“These things happened unto them for ensamples; and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”

A call is now being made to raise $150,000 to relieve the financial strain under which our institutions are laboring in home and foreign fields, and for the erection and equipment of institutions in our mission fields. All must see that this is in the order of God’s providence. We have been instructed through the spirit of prophecy that now is the time to get out of debt. Had not this instruction been given, we might have devoted our entire energies to pushing the work in new fields, forgetting that these prosperous times will not always continue. The result would have brought great embarrassment when close times come upon us. From the light given, we know that this advance move is in harmony with the will of God. Some of our brethren will no doubt “murmur in their tents,” but every loyal Seventh-day Adventist should take up this call and pass it along in a spirit of faith. I believe we will do this, and even do as we did with the $100,000 call, overrun the call by several thousand dollars. “Now the just shall live by faith; but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”

Hamilton, Mo.