p. 155 | THIS WASTE by Frank Starr

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 17, 1877

“THIS WASTE.”

By Frank Starr

STRANGE as it is, there are yet to be found those who complain of waste of means in the promulgation of the gospel—useless outlay of money, even in its closing work—the proclamation of the third angel’s message. If the giving of property for the cause of Christ and to extend the truth to the nations is a waste of means, it has been common ever since the feet of the Master were anointed with the costly ointment. Judas said that was wasted. No doubt he criticised the whole proceedings. “Three hundred pence spent uselessly!” Ten times as much as the Lord himself was worth to Judas, for he bartered him away for thirty. “Why was this waste of money?”

Judas thought this ought to have been given to the poor. Well, Judas’ argument is in circulation yet. “If you have any thing to donate, there are multitudes of needy poor; give it to them.” We learn, however, that Judas’ plausible reasoning was prompted by selfishness. He wanted the money saved for poor Judas. Let us see where this reasoning will lead us to. Suppose we save the money we were to give to the Lord for the poor. To whom shall we give it? We reason thus: Charity begins at home. Times are hard with us too; we are poor enough, so we will save it for poor self. We should remember the poor. The Lord said, “Ye may do them good.” This will be done by the proclamation of this message; and it has connected with it, the health reform, which, if lived out, is worth far more pecuniarily than an annual gift of two gold eagles to any poor family.

Why complain of useless expenditure of means in the erection of substantial buildings in which to carry on the work of God? Why not feel as David did? No sooner had the Lord given him rest from his enemies than he began to think of erecting a temple for the Lord, to take the place of the curtains which had so long sheltered the sacred ark. He commences to prepare for its erection, and after a quarter of a century he has the sum of not less than forty-five million dollars in gold and silver, of his own proper goods, which he cheerfully donates. Do not get the idea that this was merely a dying bequest. In the prime of life this man after God’s own heart began to lay by for this very purpose. Was this a waste of means?

Why complain of money’s being spent in sending missionaries to different parts of the earth, to seek for those who will listen to the truth? These messengers are now running to and fro it is true; but soon the scene will change. From sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, shall men wander, starving for the truth. They shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it. From the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the Pacific to the Atlantic, they travel, to hear the truth explained, but it is too late. Mercy’s door has closed. That fearful time is not far distant. Then will be heard the bitter wail of the unfaithful servant as he flings to the moles and bats that which he had so long reserved, fearing to give it to the cause of God, lest it should be wasted. That very means might have sent the truth to those famished souls; but now it is too late. Let us take warning. FRANK STARR.