Ellen White on Shares: Worldly vs. God's Work

Buying shares is a practice Ellen White discusses, often with a clear warning against their use in worldly speculation, but also recognizing their potential for supporting God's work. It's a topic that touches on the principles of stewardship, self-denial, and the proper use of financial resources for God's glory.

Worldly Speculation and its Dangers 🌍📉

Ellen White strongly cautions against investing in worldly speculations, particularly in mining stocks and real estate. Such investments are seen as a "snare" that can eat away at one's interest in and love for the truth, engrossing minds in business affairs to the point where they cannot distinguish between the sacred and the common. She highlights that this practice blunts discernment and opens individuals to the enemy's deceptive power15MR 68+4.

Examples of these dangers include:

• Loss of focus on eternal things: The passion for money-making can become all-absorbing, causing earthly riches to eclipse heavenly treasure and eternal things to fade in importance5T 261.2.

• Financial ruin and spiritual peril: While initial success might occur, it often leads to greater speculation, resulting in confusion, loss, and even total ruin for many. Some have been so consumed by the pursuit of wealth that they lose reason and even their lives15MR 70.2+3.

• Diversion of God's means: Money that should be used for the advancement of God's cause is diverted to other purposes, crippling the work6LtMs, Ms 26a, 1890, par. 3+4.

• Dishonest practices: Buying and selling city lots at inflated prices is considered a "species of robbery," reflecting the dishonest practices prevalent in the world15MR 68+1. These actions are recorded in the books of heaven as untruthfulness12LtMs, Ms 12, 1897, par. 22.

She emphasizes that God does not want His people to invest in mining stock, considering it burying the Lord's talent in the earthPUR May 18, 1911, par. 2+3. The Lord’s resources are unlimited, and we are merely instruments in His handsTSA 23.3.

Investing in God's Cause: A Different Kind of "Shares" 🙏💖

In contrast to worldly speculation, Ellen White advocates for "taking shares" or investing in God's work, particularly in publishing houses and health institutions. This is not for personal gain but as a sacrificial offering for the advancement of the gospel4T 596.1+2.

Key aspects of this principle include:

• Liberality and Sacrifice: Funds for these institutions should be raised through liberality and sacrifice, rather than through inducements of large percentages or good investmentsT14 7.2+3. The offering should be made with reverence and gratitude6BC 1118.3.

• No expectation of financial return: While some early institutions might have initially offered dividends or stock that paid a percentage, Ellen White later made it clear that such investments should be considered gifts, without expectation of financial return3T 173.2+3. Her own investments were a gift, and she did not wish to withdraw them even in times of financial difficulty for the institutionsRH August 4, 1903, par. 4+3.

• Relief for the poor: Investing in institutions like the Health Institute should be done to enable them to help the "humble, worthy poor" who cannot afford treatmentCH 262.1+3.

• Heavenly Treasure: Investing in God's cause is seen as laying up "capital stock in heaven" or "treasure in heaven"4T 596.1+1. This is the only treasure that is eternally secureRH December 6, 1887, par. 14. Those who invest sparingly in God's cause while accumulating earthly riches will receive heavenly treasure according to their investment in "heavenly stock"RH January 9, 1883, par. 12.

• Duty and Privilege: It is the privilege and duty of God's people to invest their means where it will do good and scatter light to the world4T 596.1.

It is important to remember that money is a precious gift from God, to be received gratefully and used discreetly, with all fidelity, as stewards of His capital2LtMs, Lt 17, 1872, par. 9. We are to honor the Lord with our substanceRH October 3, 1907, par. 1.

Practical Application and Stewardship 🏡💰

Beyond formal investments, Ellen White also touches on the broader concept of "shares" in daily life and responsibilities:

• Sharing burdens: We are called to share the burdens of the household and of God's causePM 107.2+5. This demonstrates how we would conduct ourselves in heavenly courtsKC 84.4+1.

• Family economy: Children should bear a share in family labor to obtain valuable education and contribute to the family's enjoyment1LtMs, Lt 8, 1867, par. 12+1. Parents should practice economy and self-denial to educate their children in morally sound environments, considering such an investment more valuable than bank stockST May 4, 1882, par. 11.

• Avoiding idleness: All have responsibilities to bear, and none can be excused from improving their faculties for God's gloryPM 107.2+1.

• Righteousness and character: The focus should be on building character and living a life of self-denial and sacrifice, which are evidences of discipleshipCSW 144.2+2.

Ultimately, Ellen White's counsel on "buying shares" is about discerning between worldly pursuits that lead to ruin and investments in God's work that yield eternal returns. It’s about being good stewards of all that God has entrusted to us, using our resources to advance His kingdom and bless others. As it is written, "Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth" Luke 12:33RH December 6, 1887, par. 14. This path ensures that we obtain the victory over selfishness and love of the world, enabling us to share in the "refreshing" and stand in the day of the LordCET 113.1+1.