But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:20, 21.
Financial speculations are Satan’s snares, laid to catch souls. In all business transactions the only safeguard for a man is the love and fear of God. In our world today there are seen the same dishonest practices which prevailed before the Flood swept this earth of its moral pollution, and which prevailed in Sodom before fire from heaven consumed its wicked inhabitants. Satan engrosses men’s minds with dreamlike prospects of great gain, and in their greed for gain, those who yield to him make representations which are positively untrue. God and the truth are forgotten….
God desires His servants to avoid all speculation. Satan may pave the way by making the first investment successful, but O, how bitter will be the final outcome! If the professing Christian has success in his first speculation, his ruin is almost certain. Visionary schemes are wildly entered into as schemers present promising enterprises, which they declare will pay a large percentage on all money invested. Good men are fascinated and deceived….
Instead of entering into speculation, let those who know the truth find some steady, honest employment, in which they can earn their living in a way that glorifies God. Those who encourage the thirst for speculation will extinguish the light that God has given to guide their feet aright. Making money easily, they will spend it unwisely, and their prodigality will be their ruin. To maintain their habits of selfish indulgence, they must continue to make money rapidly. The effort to make money fast enough to meet their extravagant expenses, draws many into the gambling hell….
My prayer to our heavenly Father is, Lord, let the clear light shine forth. Carefully and prayerfully studied, God’s Word keeps men well-balanced. In this Word we find God’s way clearly defined. No one who searches the Word with sincerity will walk in darkness. But we cannot cast aside the light God sends, and at the same time walk in its rays. To be Christians at all, we must be Christians in all things, revealing His virtues, doing His works. The truth is our safeguard. Planted in the heart by the Holy Spirit, it enables us to see clearly the difference between what is right and what is wrong.—Manuscript 26a, 1890, “A Warning Against Financial Speculation.”
The Upward Look p. 21
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Prayer Requests
—- Been battling vertigo all week. Start feeling better and it knocks me down again. Monday went to emergency room due to nausea so bad with every movement I threw up. Got my neck adjusted, it was off it’s axis. But that has not resolved the problem. Pray God will guide me to know not only what to do but what not to do so this can heal. I’m barely functional. Plus now my sinuses are acting up adding insult to injury and my tear in spinal cord is getting aggravated from not being mobile enough. Darla
—-please pray that I can take my mother home to be with me without any problems. Then I will come and get my uncle and the doggies asap! Please continue praying because knowing the “caregiver” I will have a real battle on my hands. Connie
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Dear Friends,
One day, when Esther was about twelve or thirteen, she played a joke on her sister that gave Eileen a terrible fright. All had seemed normal when she had driven Esther and Ronnie Jay to school on that particular day, but it didn’t stay that way. After dropping them off at the door, Eileen decided to park the car so she could visit the restroom before about her day. Esther, who sat by the window noticed this and asked if she could be excused. The teacher, not expecting anything, nodded his permission.
Quietly, Esther tiptoed into the restroom. She could hear her sister humming softly to herself in one of the stalls. Smiling, Esther entered the far stall and lifted herself up onto the metal crossbeams at the top of the stalls. Carefully, she inched her way from stall to stall until she was directly over her sister.
Suddenly, Esther jumped down in front of the startled Eileen. Then she quickly let herself out of the stall’s door, ran from the restroom but slowed to a walk when she reached the hallway. Then she entered her classroom and sat down as if nothing had happened.
As soon as Eileen recovered from her fright, her fear became anger. Moments later, she burst into the classroom, shouting threats at her little sister. Seeing the shocked looks upon the teacher and students’ faces, Eileen stopped shouting and quietly closed the door. After she was gone, the teacher asked Esther what caused her sister to burst angrily into the room. When Esther confessed what she had done, the whole room erupted with laughter.
How often wrongs that are no laughing matter are committed by those we should be able to trust. How many times our feelings are hurt by those we love the most. How often church members become disillusioned and devastated by our words or actions and leave never to return because we will not humble ourselves enough to apologize for what we have done.
Our Dear Saviour reminds us, “whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Matt 23:12 In fact making sure that all is right between ourselves and our brethren is so important that He tells us, “if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” Matt 5:23,24 He, Who “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” longs for us to be as He is, “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.” Phil 2:7,8; Ex 34:6
Our Saviour was kind and tenderhearted, full of love and pity for the erring. He did not come to this world to force His will on anyone. He does not manipulate us. He does not make us love Him. Instead, He gives us a choice. He pleads with us, “therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” Deut 30:19 “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” Eze 33:11 He wins us to Himself through His loving kindness and tender mercies. (Jer 31:3) He draws us with cords of love. (Hosea 11:4) “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” Ps 103:13,14 He gives us an example of how we should treat those who disagree with us or even despitefully use us. Even as He was nailed to the cross, He prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
Our Loving Redeemer is to be our example. Paul explains how each should live in harmony. “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Phil 2:3,4 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” Rom 12:3-5 “For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” 1 Cor 12:12-27 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16
“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” 1 Peter 3:8-12
Rose