HOW CAN I SUCCEED IN MY BUSINESS?
By W. J. Stone
W. J. Stone, in Tennessee Watchman Brother A has started on the right track. Day by day he is joyous in the Lord; for the Lord has given him “the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;” and the Lord now calls him a tree of righteousness. Isa. 61: 3. “And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Ps. 1: 3. God’s infinite power is exercised day and night in his behalf. He sends the showers of rain to moisten the thirsty fields; the sun to impart the needed heat; the electrical current to quicken the buried seed. The seed grows and the plants develop by the power of God, and bring forth a bountiful harvest. “As the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth.” Isa. 61: 11.197 Brother A seems to have had a new conversion. His testimonies in the meetings are much more hopeful. He talks faith in God and His promises. The change is apparent to all. He has taken God at His word: “Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Mal. 3: 10. Never before have his crops looked so thrifty, the orchard and vines been laden with such an abundant crop of luscious fruit, free from the sting of the destroying insect. Verse 11. The stock never thrived so well. The housewife’s chickens seem to be outdoing themselves, and even the garden puts on an air of pageantry. All nature seems to be smiling upon his home. Deut. 28: 1-8. Brother A keeps his vow to the Lord faithfully. He harvests his crops, and his barns are filled to overflowing. Read Prov. 3: 9, 10; also Mal. 3: 10. Brother and Sister A have been keeping strict account of how many eggs the hens have laid; how much milk and butter have been produced; how much the bountiful garden has lessened their expense from that of city life; and they faithfully bring to the Lord His own, and thus fulfill the instruction of the Saviour. Matt. 23: 23. What a grand experience is that of Brother A. “But,” says one, “this is a fictitious narrative.” But it is not. This is what God promises, and He can not lie. And it is the experience of thousands who have proved the Lord by faithfulness. What a comforting thought that we need have no worriment over the cares of this life. The Lord says, “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” 1 Peter 5: 7. When we do our part faithfully, working the works of righteousness by faith in Christ and God, our Heavenly Father is bound by His oath to support us. The burden of support rests upon Him. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; . . . in all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” Prov. 3: 5, 6. What a precious promise is this! Oh that we could all learn the blessedness of trusting in our Heavenly Father! Much of the worriment, much of the anxious care, many of our failures in business, would be things of the past. God is longing graciously to bestow His blessing where His curse is resting, and in loving kindness is endeavoring to woo us into His confidence, and to loving obedience. Isa. 48: 18. My brethren and sisters, shall we heed the loving entreaties, and be honest with our God? Many of our brethren fail in bringing to the Lord that which is His due on little things. This opens the way to be careless about greater things. “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” Luke 16: 10. The Lord would have us tithe even the garden stuff, eggs, butter, etc., and estimate the things we use to live upon. The Lord would render double to all such for their faithfulness. I am acquainted with a brother living in this Conference who bought nine chickens, and kept them three months. He kept strict account of all the eggs laid, tithing them, as is his custom in everything, and in the three months the nine hens laid seventy-two eggs each, or a total of six hundred and forty-eight eggs. This is only one case, but it shows how God rewards faithful souls. Do not, however, make a covenant with God through selfishness, but rather through a principle of righteousness.