p. 1 | Editorial by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 23, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 50.

Editorial.

By Editor

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable."—2 Tim. 3:16.

"LAY not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal."

THUS speaks our Lord in Matt. 6:19, 20. The reason he gives for this is not the mere saving of so much money or treasure, but the saving of souls; "for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." What a blessed privilege God presents before every child of his in these times of trial! Banks breaking, companies failing, railroads wrecking, stocks falling, real estate booms collapsing, mines closing, everybody distrustful,—such has been the record for months past, such is still the condition of things in many places. There is a general feeling of insecurity in financial circles. All institutions are suspected; none are implicitly trusted.

BUT in all these difficulties and financial failures, in which nations go down, there is one government which stands, one bank which has never and will never close its doors. God reigns, and the Bank of Heaven is solvent. No "run" can affect its credit or diminish its funds. The treasury of the Infinite is behind it all. Into that God asks that every one of earth's children shall lay up treasure. In that Bank deposit your funds. It has never failed; it never will fail; it never can fail. After carrying millions of people through a desert, after feeding them for forty years, after warring with tribes and nations under the direction of the Great Banker, one of the war-worn heroes thus speaks: "Not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof." Josh. 23:15.

How MAY we lay up treasure in this bank? —In various ways. He that giveth to "the poor lendeth unto the Lord." And there are poor all around us, on every hand. "Many are unworthy." True, but who is not unworthy of all God's goodness. "Be ye therefore merciful as your Father also is merciful;" and he sends sunshine and rain both to the unjust and just. But give wisely and tenderly, so as not to injure the feelings of the needy nor increase the improvidence and shiftlessness of the idle and dissolute. Give to God's cause. Millions of souls are in darkness. Thousands of these are longing for light, starving for the Bread of Life, thirsting for the Water of Life. Means are needed to carry this truth. The investment is sure to him who has his heart in it. It brings not only eternal riches but a harvest of living souls. Do you not desire to invest? Reader, will you not have a share in Heaven's treasures?