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GEO. M. POWELL

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 4, 1907

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 84, No. 14.

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GEO. M. POWELL

By George M. Powell

Covetousness

GEO. M. POWELL

AND he said unto them, Take heed and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”
Ancient Israel was a type of the remnant church. “But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. . . . Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” 1 Cor. 10: 5-10.
In their journey between Egypt and Canaan, they were fed for forty years on manna which fell daily in the camp.
If the manna could have been preserved many would doubtless have stored up quantities of it, as some attempted to do (Ex. 16: 20), lest they should come to want, so that when the cloudy pillar moved on, their manna would have been a burden to them and they would have been left behind.
Is there not a lesson in this for us? We have been led out of the bondage of sin and the darkness of error “which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt” into the light of present truth, but have not yet reached the goodly land. Has not our great Leader given the command, “Go forward”? Is there not danger just now of our overestimating our temporal needs and storing more “manna” than our necessities require, so that when the camp moves forward we shall be tempted to stay by the “stuff.” How many among us, especially the more prosperous ones, have so many home interests to look after that they can not find time to attend camp-meetings and other important gatherings!
After giving the signs that immediately precede his second coming the Saviour leaves the following warning for this generation: “Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.” Luke 21: 34.
Sanford, Tenn.