Where Is my Interest? by Roswell F. Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 30, 1873

Where Is my Interest?

By Roswell F. Cottrell

The Lord is sending forth a warning to the world which is the final test of probationary time, and that which will ripen the harvest of the earth. Professing to believe this, it becomes me to examine my heart to ascertain whether my greatest interest is really in this work. Is it my first and greatest desire to know what I can do to forward this work, and bring the knowledge of the saving truth to men, thus preparing them to stand in the great day of wrath which will immediately follow upon the close of this warning message?

Am I living so that my friends and neighbors can see that my actions and conversation are in harmony with such a confession of faith? Do I deal justly, giving to all their due, and doing to others as I would wish them to do by me?

Am I merciful? ready to help those that need help, beyond the demands of any claim of debt? Am I liberal toward the toiling poor? or am I selfish and stingy?

Is my conversation seasoned with grace? Do I take every available opportunity to speak of the things that pertain to the kingdom of God and everlasting life? or am I content to let the things of this life be the theme of conversation, to the exclusion of that which I profess to value above all things else?

Am I anxious to invest means in the cause and work of God? The work of publishing the truth to the world calls for means: The work is great; and the facilities for doing it must be greatly increased. Am I willing to do what I can to supply this need? Am I anxious to have as large a share of stock in this enterprise as possible? How should I act in regard to this? How shall I evince that my heart and my treasure are in Heaven, and my chief interest is in the work of God? If I wished to buy a horse or to add a few acres to my estate, could I not devise means to spare a hundred or two for that purpose? Could I not even afford to invest from one to five or six hundred in a musical instrument which would make home so pleasant and agreeable to all? And can I do the like, and more for the cause of God? Or am I ready to invest in worldly enterprises by hundreds or thousands, while I would invest in the cause of God by ones or fives, and think it extremely bountiful to go as high as ten?

If our faith is correct, time is short, and, consequently, the value of worldly wealth is rapidly depreciating. Soon it will be worthless. But the great rage of the times is wealth. The apostle James, viewing these times prophetically, exclaims, “You have heaped up treasure in the last days.” Jas. 5:3.—Campbell. The life of the miser was always the extreme of folly; and it is intensified as we approach the end of time. But with what utter astonishment must one be viewed who professes to believe that time is about to close, and that the last merciful warning is doing its fearful work, and at the same time is more anxious to increase his wealth, than to invest in the cause of God, help forward his work, and thus save souls and lay up treasure in Heaven.

If the time has come, as I know it has, for the fearful warning of the third angel to be given, the Lord is terribly in earnest to warn and save men by this means. And shall I not be in earnest in this work? Shall I not so live and labor that it may be known that I am in earnest?

Physical activity conduces to physical health. Exercise, though called forth only to help others, will also benefit the laborer. So the Lord makes our labors for the spiritual good and eternal salvation of others, the means of saving ourselves. In his wisdom he has chosen to make man instrumental in the salvation of man. He does not need our labor or our means; but to labor and sacrifice in his cause he sees to be the best means for our own salvation. All that we do for the advancement of the cause of truth will be found, in the end, to have been the laying up of treasure in Heaven. Now the Lord calls for self-sacrificing labor, according to our several ability. His motive is to enrich us with spiritual and eternal good.

R. F. COTTRELL.