LESSON 10 *March 4–10
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Luke 12:16–21, Eccles. 2:18–
22, Prov. 27:23–27, 2 Cor. 4:18, Eccles. 5:10, Col. 1:15–17.
Memory Text: “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me,
Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth:
Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their
works do follow them” (Revelation 14:13).
As we near the end of our earning years, our financial focus turns
toward preserving our assets in anticipation of the end of life. The
transition from working to retirement can be a very traumatic
experience. In terms of our finances, what is the best way to proceed?
As people get older, they almost naturally begin to worry about the
future. The most common fears are: dying too soon (before the famil y is
taken care of); living too long (outliving one’s assets or savings);
catastrophic illness (all one’s resources could go at one time); or mental
and/or physical disability (who will take care of me?).
When commenting on these fears, Ellen G. White wrote: “All these fears
originate with Satan. . . . If they would take the position which God would
have them, their last days might be their best and happiest. . . . They should
lay aside anxiety and burdens, and occupy their time as happily as they can,
and be ripening up for heaven.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 424.
This week we will review God’s counsel regarding our last years. What
are things that we should do, what should we avoid doing, and what
principles should we follow?
* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 11.
EGW Notes — SATURDAY ↓
Sabbath Afternoon, March 4
Lesson 10 - Giving Back
David was distressed as he saw those who once seemed to have the fear
of God before them, now in old age seemingly forsaken of God and
exposed to ridicule by the enemies of the Lord. . . .
David was strongly moved. He was distressed. He looked forward to
the time when he should be aged, and feared that God would leave him
and he would be as unhappy as other aged persons whose course he had
noticed, and that he should be left to the reproach of the enemies of the
Lord. With this burden upon him he earnestly prays [Psalm 71:9, 17, 19
quoted]. David felt the necessity of guarding against the evils which
attend old age. . . .
If such would take the position God would have them, their last days
might be their best, their happiest. Those who have children in whose
honesty and management they have reason to confide, should allow them
to manage for them and provide for their happiness. Unless they do this,
Satan will take advantage of their lack of mental strength, and will
manage for them. They should lay aside anxiety and burdens, and occupy
their time as happily as they can, in ripening up for heaven.—Ellen G.
White Comments, in
The SDA Bible Commentary,
vol. 3, p. 1148.
There are living upon our earth men who have passed the age of
fourscore and ten. The natural results of old age are seen in their
feebleness. But they believe God, and God loves them. The seal of God is
upon them, and they will be among the number of whom the Lord has
said, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.” With Paul they can say,
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished by course, I have kept the faith:
henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the
Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only,
but unto all them also which love his appearing.” There are many whose
grey hairs God honors because they have fought a good fight and kept the
faith.—Letter 207, 1899.
What a glorious morning will the resurrection morning be! What a
wonderful scene will open when Christ shall come to be admired of them
that believe! All who were partakers with Christ in His humiliation and
sufferings will be partakers with Him in His glory. By the resurrection of
Christ from the dead every believing saint who falls asleep in Jesus will
come forth from his prison house in triumph. The resurrected saint will
proclaim, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1
Corinthians 15:55).
Jesus Christ has triumphed over death and rent the fetters of the tomb,
and all who sleep in the tomb will share the victory; they will come forth
from their graves as did the
Conqueror.—Selected Messages, book 2, pp. 271, 272.
SUNDAY March 5
The Rich Fool
Read Luke 12:16–21. What’s the relevant message to us here? What
strong rebuke did the Lord give to the foolish man, and what should
that say to us regarding our attitude toward what we own?
* Your notes will not be saved!
Though the message is broader than this, one could argue that this was a
story Jesus told about what not to do in retirement. Accordingly, if a person
is quitting work to spend his accumulated assets on himself, he should
beware and take this story to heart. The problem is not working hard or
getting wealth, particularly as one gets older and, perhaps, even richer. The
problem is the attitude toward it. Jesus’ words—“ ‘take your ease; eat,
drink, and be merry’ ” (Luke 12:19, NKJV)—express the real issue here.
“This man’s aims were no higher than those of the beasts that perish. He
lived as if there were no God, no heaven, no future life; as if everything he
possessed were his own, and he owed nothing to God or man.”—Ellen G.
White, Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 257, 258.
If we think only of ourselves and ignore the needs of others and the
cause of God during this stage of life, we are following the example of the
rich fool. There was no indication in Jesus’ parable that the rich man was
lazy or dishonest. The problem was in how he spent what God had
entrusted to him. Because we don’t know the day of our death, we should
always be ready for it by living to carry out God’s will instead of pursuing a
life of selfishness.
The general picture given in the Bible is that a person works and
remains productive as long as he or she is able. In fact, it is interesting to
note that the authors of the great prophetic books of Daniel and the
Revelation were, many believe, both in their 80s when they completed their
work. This was at a time when the average age at death was about 50 years.
Ellen G. White published some of her best-known and best-loved books,
such as The Desire of Ages, after about age 70. Age, then, as long as we are
healthy, should not mean that we stop being productive and, to whatever
extent possible, doing some good.
Jesus counseled those waiting for His second coming not just to watch
but to continue working, as well (Matt. 24:44–46).
At any age and with any amount of money, how can we avoid falling
into the trap that the man did here? Ask yourself, What am I living
for?
EGW Notes — SUNDAY ↓
Sunday, March 5
The Rich Fool
The solemn warning that was given to the foolish rich man should be a
sufficient warning for all men to the close of time. Lesson upon lesson was
given by our Lord to take everyone away from selfishness, and to establish
close bonds of fellowship and brotherhood between man and man. He
desired that the hearts of believers should be closely knit together in
strong bonds of sympathy, so that there might be unity in Himself. They
are together to rejoice in hope of the glory of God, looking for eternal life
through the virtue of Jesus Christ. If Christ is abiding in the heart, His
love will diffuse itself to others through its possessor, and will bind heart
to heart. . . .
Jesus gives the Holy Spirit in large measure for great emergencies, to
help our infirmities, to give us strong consolation, to illuminate our minds,
and purify and ennoble our hearts. Christ becomes unto us wisdom,
righteousness, sanctification, and
redemption.—Reflecting Christ,
p. 103.
[The foolish rich] man’s aims were no higher than those of the beasts
that perish. He lived as if there were no God, no heaven, no future life; as
if everything he possessed were his own, and he owed nothing to God or
man. The psalmist described this rich man when he wrote, “The fool hath
said in his heart, There is no God.” Psalm 14:1.
This man has lived and planned for self. He sees that the future is
abundantly provided for; there is nothing for him now but to treasure and
enjoy the fruits of his labors. He regards himself as favored above other
men, and takes credit to himself for his wise management. . . .
But “the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” 1 Co rinthians
3:19. While the rich man is looking forward to years of enjoyment, the
Lord is making far different plans. . . .
The only thing that would be of value to him now he has not secured.
In living for self he has rejected that divine love which would have flowed
out in mercy to his fellow men. Thus he has rejected life. For God is love,
and love is life. This man has chosen the earthly rather than the spiritual,
and with the earthly he must pass
away.—Christ’s Object Lessons,
p. 257, 258.
If men would do their duty as faithful stewards of their Lord’s goods,
there would be no cry for bread, none suffering in destitution, none naked
and in want. It is the unfaithfulness of men that brings about the state of
suffering in which humanity is plunged. If those whom God has made
stewards would but appropriate their Lord’s goods to the object for which
He gave to them, this state of suffering would not exist. The Lord tests
men by giving them an abundance of good things, just as He tested the
rich man of the parable. If we prove ourselves unfaithful in the righteous
mammon, who shall entrust us the true riches? It will be those who have
stood the test on the earth, who have been found faithful, who have
obeyed the words of the Lord in being merciful, in using their means for
the advancement of His kingdom, that will hear from the lips of the
Master, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over
a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things.”—“Parable of the Rich Man,”
Review and Herald, June 26, 1894.
MONDAY March 6
You Can’t Take It With You
Someone once asked famous evangelist Billy Graham what surprised
him most about life, now that he was old (Graham was in his 60s at the
time). Graham’s answer? “The brevity of it.”
No question, life goes by quickly.
What do the following texts teach about human life here? Ps. 49:17;
1 Tim. 6:6, 7; Ps. 39:11; James 4:14; Eccles. 2:18–22.
Not only does life go by quickly, but also when you die, you take
nothing with you, at least of the material goods that you have accumulated.
(Character? That’s another story.) “For when he dies he shall carry nothing
away” (Ps. 49:17, NKJV), which means that he or she leaves it behind for
someone else to get. Who will get it, of course, depends upon what plans
are made beforehand.
Though, of course, not everyone has an estate per se. Some people,
particularly as they have worked through the years, have accumulated some
wealth. In the end, what will happen to that wealth after you pass on is
really an important question that people should consider.
For those who have possessions at the end of life, no matter how great or
small they might be, estate planning can be our final act of stewardship, of
carefully managing what God has blessed us with. If you don’t have an
estate plan that you have created with a will or trust, the state’s or civil
government’s laws can come into play (all this depends, of course, on
where you live). If you die without a will, most civil jurisdictions simply
pass your assets on to your relatives, whether they need them or not,
whether or not they would make good use of the money, and whether or not
you would have chosen to give a portion to that person. The church will get
nothing. If that’s what you want, fine; if not, you need to work out plans
beforehand.
In the simplest terms, we can say that because God is the Owner of
everything (see Ps. 24:1), it would be logical to conclude from a biblical
perspective that when we are finished with what God has entrusted to us,
we should return to Him, the rightful Owner, what is left, once the needs of
loved ones are met.
Death, as we know, can come at any time, and unexpectedly, too, even
today. What would happen to your loved ones were you to die today?
What, too, would happen to your property? Would it be distributed
as you would like?
EGW Notes — MONDAY ↓
Monday, March 6
You Can’t Take It With You
The book of Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon in his old age, after he
had fully proved that all the pleasures earth is able to give are empty and
unsatisfying. He there shows how impossible it is for the vanities of the
world to meet the longings of the soul. His conclusion is that it is wisdom
to enjoy with gratitude the good gifts of God, and to do right; for all our
works will be brought into judgment.
Solomon’s autobiography is a mournful one. He gives us the history of
his search for happiness. He engaged in intellectual pursuits; he gratified
his love for pleasure; he carried out his schemes of commercial enterprise.
He was surrounded by the fascinating splendor of court life. All that the
carnal heart could desire was at his command; yet he sums up his
experience in this sad record: [Ecclesiastes 1:14-2:11 quoted].
Solomon had great learning; but his wisdom was foolishness; for he did
not know how to stand in moral independence, free from sin, in the
strength of a character molded after the divine similitude. Solomon has
told us the result of his research, his painstaking efforts, his persevering
inquiry. He pronounces his wisdom altogether vanity.—Ellen G. White
Comments, in
The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 3, pp. 1164, 1165.
Every breath, every pulsation of the heart, is an evidence of the allpervading
care of Him in whom “we live, and move, and have our being.” Acts 17:28.
It is not because of inherent power that year by year the earth
produces her bounties and continues her motion around the sun. The hand
of God guides the planets and keeps them in position in their orderly
march through the heavens. He “bringeth out their host by number: He
calleth them all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He is
strong in power; not one faileth.” Isaiah 40:26. It is through His power that
vegetation flourishes, that the leaves appear and the flowers bloom. He
“maketh grass to grow upon the mountains” (Psalm 147:8), and by Him the
valleys are made fruitful. “All the beasts of the forest . . . seek their meat
from God,” and every living creature, from the smallest insect up to man,
is daily dependent upon His providential care.
In the beautiful words of the psalmist, “These wait all upon Thee. . . .
That Thou givest them they gather: Thou openest Thine hand, they are
filled with good.” Psalm 104:20, 21, 27, 28. His word controls the elements;
He covers the heavens with clouds and prepares rain for the earth. “He
giveth snow like wool: He scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.” Psalm
147:16. “When He uttereth His voice, there is a multitude of waters in the
heavens, and He causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth;
He maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of His
treasuries.” Jeremiah
10:13.—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 115.
All who would have their names retained in the book of life, should
now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before
God by sorrow for sin, and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful
searching of heart. The light, frivolous spirit indulged in by so many
professed Christians must be put away. There is earnest warfare before all
who would subdue the evil tendencies that strive for the mastery. The
work of preparation is an individual
work.—Sons and Daughters of God, p. 355.
TUESDAY March 7
Begin With Personal Needs
In Old Testament times, many of the children of Israel were farmers and
shepherds. Thus, some of God’s promised blessings were couched in farm
language. For example, in Proverbs 3:9, 10, God says that if we are
financially faithful to Him, our “barns will be filled with plenty” (NKJV). It
is likely that many Christians don’t have a barn today. So, we understand
that God will bless our work or business if we are willing to follow and
obey Him.
Read Proverbs 27:23–27. How would you interpret “Be diligent to
know the state of your flocks” (NKJV) for Christians living today?
However much the Bible warns against the rich trampling on the poor,
or being greedy with their wealth, Scripture never condemns wealth or
people’s efforts to acquire wealth, provided of course they don’t do it
dishonestly or through oppressing others. In fact, the texts for today, in
Proverbs, indicate that we should be diligent in our financial affairs in order
that we may have enough for ourselves and our family. “You shall have
enough goats’ milk for your food, for the food of your household, and the
nourishment of your maidservants” (Prov. 27:27, NKJV).
How would we rephrase Proverbs 27:27 for today? Maybe we would
suggest, “Review your financial records and determine the state of your
affairs.” Or “Do a balance sheet and understand your debt-to-equity ratio.”
From time to time during your earning years, it would be appropriate to
review your will or other documents and your present assets and update
them as necessary. Such documents as wills and trusts are put in place early
in the estate-planning process in order to be a protection against untimely
death, or not being able for health reasons to decide about where your assets
should go. The idea is to plan ahead for what will happen to your
possessions once they are no longer yours.
In short, good stewardship of what God has blessed us with doesn’t deal
only with what we have while alive but also with what happens after we are
gone—because, unless the Lord returns in our lifetime, we will one day be
gone while our material possessions, whether a little or a lot, will remain
behind. Hence, it is up to us now to make provisions so that what we have
been blessed with can be a blessing to others and the furtherance of God’s
work.
“For riches are not forever” (Prov. 27:24, NKJV). Why is it important
to keep this thought before us?
EGW Notes — TUESDAY ↓
Tuesday, March 7
Begin With Personal Needs
Life is too solemn to be absorbed in temporal and earthly matters, in a
treadmill of care and anxiety for the things that are but an atom in
comparison with the things of eternal interest. Yet God has called us to
serve Him in the temporal affairs of life. Diligence in this work is as much
a part of true religion as is devotion. The Bible gives no indorsement to
idleness. It is the greatest curse that afflicts our world. Every man and
woman who is truly converted will be a diligent worker. . . .
It is the duty of every Christian to acquire habits of order,
thoroughness, and dispatch. There is no excuse for slow bungling at work
of any character. When one is always at work and the work is never done,
it is because mind and heart are not put into the labor. The one who is
slow and who works at a disadvantage should realize that these are faults
to be corrected. He needs to exercise his mind in planning how to use the
time so as to secure the best results. By tact and method, some will
accomplish as much in five hours as others do in
ten.—Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 343, 344.
Love to Jesus will be seen, will be felt. It cannot be hidden. It exerts a
wondrous power. It makes the timid bold, the slothful diligent, the
ignorant wise. It makes the stammering tongue eloquent, and rouses the
dormant intellect into new life and vigor. It makes the desponding
hopeful, the gloomy joyous. Love to Christ will lead its possessor to accept
responsibilities for His sake, and to bear them in His strength. Love to
Christ will not be dismayed by tribulation, nor turned aside from duty by
reproaches. . . .
God considers more with how much love we work, than the amount we
do. Love is a heavenly attribute. The natural heart cannot originate it. This
heavenly plant only flourishes where Christ reigns supreme. Where love
exists, there is power and truth in the life. Love does good and nothing but
good. Those who have love bear fruit unto holiness, and in the end
everlasting life.—That I May Know Him, p. 167.
David’s public labor was about to close. He knew that he should soon
die, and he does not leave his business matters in confusion, to vex the
soul of his son; but while he has sufficient physical and mental strength,
he arranges the affairs of his kingdom, even to the minutest matters, not
forgetting to warn Solomon in regard to the case of Shimei. He knew that
the latter would cause trouble in the kingdom. He was a dangerous man,
of violent temper, and was kept in control only through fear. Whenever he
dared, he would cause rebellion, or, if he had a favorable opportunity,
would not hesitate to take the life of Solomon.
David, in arranging his business, sets a good example to all who are
advanced in years, to settle their matters while they are capable of doing
so, that when they shall be drawing near to death, and their mental
faculties are dimmed, they shall have nothing of a worldly nature to divert
their minds from God.—Ellen G. White Comments, in
The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 2, pp. 1024, 1025.
WEDNESDAY March 8
Deathbed Charity
Read principles can we take from the following texts regarding how
we should deal with money?
1 Tim. 6:17
2 Cor. 4:18
Prov. 30:8
Eccles. 5:10
Money can have a powerful hold on human beings, a hold that has led to
the ruin of many. Who has not heard of people who have done terrible
things because of money—even when they already had a lot of it to begin
with?
It doesn’t have to be that way, though. By God’s power, we can
overcome the enemy’s attempt to take what was meant to be a blessing
(material possessions) and turn them into a curse.
In the context of being a good steward in planning for death, one danger
that people face is the temptation to hoard assets now, justifying that
hoarding with the idea that, well, “When I die, I can give it all away.”
Though better than just spending it all now (one billionaire had said that he
knew that he would be living right only if the check for his funeral
bounced), we can and should do better than that.
“I saw that many withhold from the cause while they live, quieting their
consciences that they will be charitable at death; they hardly dare exercise
faith and trust in God to give anything while living. But this deathbed
charity is not what Christ requires of His followers; it cannot excuse the
selfishness of the living. Those who hold fast their property till the last
moment surrender it to death rather than to the cause. Losses are occurring
continually. Banks fail, and property is consumed in very many ways. Many
purpose to do something, but they delay the matter, and Satan works to
prevent the means from coming into the treasury at all. It is lost before it is
returned to God, and Satan exults that it is so.”—Ellen G. White,
Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 154.
Why must we be very careful in how we justify our use of whatever
material blessings we have?
EGW Notes — WEDNESDAY ↓
Wednesday, March 8
Deathbed Charity
Trust . . . in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. 1
Timothy 6:17.
We should be much happier and more useful, if our homelife and social
intercourse were governed by the principles of the Christian religion, and
illustrated the meekness and simplicity of Christ. Let visitors see that we
try to make all around us happy by our cheerfulness, sympathy, and love. .
. .
Then let us set our hearts and homes in order; let us teach our children
that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and let us, by a
cheerful, happy, well-ordered life, express our gratitude and love to Him
“who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.” But above all things, let us fix
our thoughts and the affections of our hearts on the dear Saviour who
suffered for guilty man, and thus opened heaven for
us.—Reflecting Christ, p. 183.
Much is said concerning our duty to the neglected poor; should not
some attention be given to the neglected rich? Many look upon this class
as hopeless, and they do little to open the eyes of those, who, blinded and
dazed by the glitter of earthly glory, have lost eternity out of their
reckoning. Thousands of wealthy men have gone to their graves
unwarned. But indifferent as they may appear, many among the rich are
soul-burdened. “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor
he that loveth abundance with increase.” He that says to fine gold, “Thou
art my confidence,” has “denied the God that is above.” . . . Ecclesiastes
5:10; Job 31:24, 28.
Riches and worldly honor cannot satisfy the soul. Many among the rich
are longing for some divine assurance, some spiritual hope. Many long for
something that will bring to an end the monotony of their aimless lives.
Many in official life feel their need of something which they have not. Few
among them go to church; for they feel that they receive little benefit. The
teaching they hear does not touch the heart. Shall we make no personal
appeal to
them?—The Ministry of Healing, p. 210.
I saw that many withhold from the cause while they live, quieting their
consciences that they will be charitable at death; they hardly dare exercise
faith and trust in God to give anything while living. But this deathbed
charity is not what Christ requires of His followers; it cannot excuse the
selfishness of the living. Those who hold fast their property till the last
moment, surrender it to death rather than to the cause. Losses are
occurring continually. Banks fail, and property is consumed in very many
ways. Many purpose to do something, but they delay the matter, and
Satan works to prevent the means from coming into the treasury at all. It
is lost before it is returned to God, and Satan exults that it is so.
If you would do good with your means, do it at once lest Satan get it in
his hands and thus hinder the work of God. Many times, when the Lord
has opened the way for brethren to handle their means to advance His
cause, the agents of Satan have presented some enterprise by which they
were positive the brethren could double their means. They take the bait;
their money is invested, and the cause, and frequently themselves, never
receive a
dollar.—Testimonies for the Church,
vol. 5, p. 154.
THURSDAY March 9
Spiritual Legacy
Though it’s hard to know what life would have been like on earth had
humans not sinned, one thing we can know for sure: there would have been
no hoarding, no greed, no poverty—things that have plagued our world
since recorded history. Our sense of ownership, of what we have worked for
and, if we did it honestly, is rightfully ours, is nevertheless a manifestation
of life in a fallen world. In the end, however, regardless of how much we do
or do not own, there’s one important point that we should always remember.
Read the following texts. What is the central point in them all, and
how should that point impact what we do with whatever material
means God has blessed us with? (Ps. 24:1, Heb. 3:4, Ps. 50:10, Gen.
14:19, Col. 1:15–17).
We are stewards and managers of what God has entrusted to us; that is,
He ultimately owns it all, and He is the one who gives us life, existence,
and the strength to have anything at all. It is only logical, then, that when
we are finished with what God has given us, and have taken care of our
family, we should return the rest to Him.
“In giving to the work of God, you are laying up for yourselves treasures
in heaven. All that you lay up above is secure from disaster and loss, and is
increasing to an eternal, an enduring substance” “[and] will be registered to
your account in the kingdom of heaven.”—Ellen G. White, Counsels on
Stewardship, p. 342.
There are many advantages to giving now, while we live. Here are a few:
1. The donor actually can see the results of the gift—a new church
building, a young person in college, an evangelistic campaign funded,
and so on.
2. The ministry or person can benefit now when the need is greatest.
3. There is no fighting among family or friends after your death.
4. It sets a good example of family values of generosity and love for
others.
5. It minimizes estate tax consequence.
6. It guarantees that the gift will be made to your desired entity (no
interference from courts or disgruntled relatives).
7. It demonstrates that the heart of the donor has been changed from
selfish to unselfish.
8. It stores up treasures in heaven.
EGW Notes — THURSDAY ↓
Thursday, March 9
Spiritual Legacy
It will not do for you to depend on making your charity gifts in
testamentary bequests at death. You cannot calculate with the least degree
of surety that the cause will ever be benefited by them. Satan works with
acute skill to stir up the relatives, and every false position is taken to gain
to the world that which was solemnly dedicated to the cause of God.
Much less than the sum willed is always received. Satan even puts it into
the hearts of men and women to protest against their relatives’ doing
what they wish in the bestowment of their property. They seem to regard
everything given to the Lord as robbing the relatives of the deceased.
If you want your means to go to the cause, appropriate it, or all that
you do not really need for a support, while you live. A few of the brethren
are doing this and enjoying the pleasure of being their own executors.
Will the covetousness of men make it necessary that they shall be
deprived of life in order that the property which God has lent them shall
not be useless forever? Let none of you draw upon yourselves the doom of
the unprofitable servant who hid his Lord’s money in the
earth.—Testimonies for the Church,
vol. 5, p. 155.
The first Christian church had not the privileges and opportunities we
have. They were a poor people, but they felt the power of the truth. The
object before them was sufficient to lead them to invest all. They felt that
the salvation or the loss of a world depended upon their instrumentality.
They cast in their all and held themselves in readiness to go or come at the
Lord’s bidding.
We profess to be governed by the same principles, to be influenced by
the same spirit. But instead of giving all for Christ many have taken the
golden wedge and a goodly Babylonish garment and hid them in the camp.
If the presence of one Achan was sufficient to weaken the whole camp of
Israel, can we be surprised at the little success which attends our efforts
when every church and almost every family has its Achan? Let us
individually go to work to stimulate others by our example of
disinterested benevolence. The work might have gone forward with far
greater power had all done what they could to supply the treasury with
means.—Testimonies for the Church,
vol. 5, pp. 156, 157.
Many are making a great mistake in regard to the things of this life.
They economize, withholding from themselves and others the good they
might receive from a right use of the means which God has lent them, and
become selfish and avaricious. They neglect their spiritual interests and
become dwarfs in religious growth, all for the sake of accumulating wealth
which they cannot use. They leave their property to their children, and
nine times out of ten it is even a greater curse to their heirs than it has
been to themselves. Children, relying upon the property of their parents,
often fail to make a success of this life, and generally utterly fail to secure
the life to come. The very best legacy which parents can leave their
children is a knowledge of useful labor and the example of a life
characterized by disinterested benevolence. By such a life they show the
true value of money, that it is only to be appreciated for the good that it
will accomplish in relieving their own wants and the necessities of others,
and in advancing the cause of
God.—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 399.
FRIDAY March 10
Further Thought: Ellen G. White wrote two chapters on this
important topic of distribution of our assets. See “To (Aged and) Wealthy
Parents,” in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, pp. 116–130, and “Wills and
Legacies,” in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, pp. 476–485.
There also is a section that discusses estate planning in Counsels on
Stewardship, pp. 323–335. Ellen G. White also wrote: “That which many
propose to defer until they are about to die, if they were Christians indeed
they would do while they have a strong hold on life. They would devote
themselves and their property to God, and, while acting as His stewards,
they would have the satisfaction of doing their duty. By becoming their own
executors, they could meet the claims of God themselves, instead of shifting
the responsibility upon others.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 480.
What does she mean by “becoming their own executors”? In a typical
will, the one making the will appoints an executor to distribute the assets
following his death in harmony with his wishes as expressed in the will. By
becoming your own executor, you simply distribute your assets yourself
while you are living. By doing so, you will have the satisfaction of seeing
the results and of knowing that you are handling God’s entrusted talents
properly.
For the Christian, the second coming of Christ is the “Blessed Hope.”
We all have imagined how awesome it will be to see Jesus coming in the
clouds of heaven. We are eager to hear the words, “Well done” (Matt.
25:21). But what if we should be laid to our rest before Jesus returns? If we
have followed His revealed will, we can have the satisfaction now of seeing
the work go forward because of our efforts, knowing that because of our
estate plan, the work will continue after we are gone.
Discussion Questions:
-
1. Though we can lay up treasure in heaven now, why is that not the
same thing as trying to earn, or even “buy,” your way to salvation?
-
2. While we should be generous in giving with what we have now,
we also should be wise. How often have we heard people, particularly
date-setters, make appeals for money because such and such an event
is going to happen at such and such a date, and so because our money
will be useless then, we’d better send it into his or her ministry now?
How can we learn to discern between this trickery and legitimate
ways that we can use our money even now for the cause of God?
EGW Notes — FRIDAY ↓
Friday, March 10
For Further Reading
Our High Calling, “A Bank That Never Fails,” p. 195;
The Upward Look, “Worship Nature’s God,” p. 327.
INSIDE STORY
Meet Them Where They Are
By ANDREW MCCHESNEY
Simo Vehkavuori, a retired pastor, sensed an inner voice inviting him to
keep on walking after he arrived at a lake crowded with sunbathers and
swimmers in Finland. Simo followed a path past several smaller lakes. “Go
farther,” the inner voice said. Simo reached a small lake and saw four young
people seated on the ground. “Would you like to hear a story from the
Finnish Civil War a hundred years ago?” he asked.
“Yes, please tell us!” they said.
When Simo finished the story, he said, “Excuse me, but do you mind if I
ask you how you feel about religion?”
“We believe in God,” they said.
“Would you like to hear how I became a Christian?” he asked.
When he finished, he mentioned that he had several cards for online
Bible studies. The young people were interested, and Simo found he had
exactly four cards in his pocket. “Wow!” a young woman exclaimed. “The
Lord knew that there were four of us. That is why you had four cards with
you!”
At another lake, Simo approached a young woman who was sunbathing.
“Would you like to hear a story from the Finnish Civil War?” he asked.
After the story, he asked how she felt about religion and told how he had
become a Christian. Seeing that she was interested, he said, “I have a book
called Steps to Christ at home. Would you mind waiting 20 minutes?”
She agreed. When he returned with the book and a Bible-study card, she
said, “When you left, I started timing you on my watch. It took you only 15
minutes.” She gratefully accepted the gifts.
Another time, Simo went up to a married couple with their teen son.
“Would you like to hear a story from the Finnish Civil War?” he asked.
Afterward, when he asked how they felt about religion, the parents replied
that they had a major problem at home. Their son was using drugs. “We
need to pray together,” Simo said. The woman began to cry. After praying,
Simo said, “I would like to share with you a book, but it is at my home.”
“We can go in our car,” the man said. At his home, Simo gave the
grateful couple Steps to Christ and a Bible study-card.
Simo believes God is blessing his efforts to meet people in secular
Finland. No one has ever refused his offer to tell how he became a
Christian. His mission outreach, he said, is inspired by the example of Paul.
“I am convinced that we should go out to meet people and not wait for them
to come to us,” he said.
This mission story illustrates Spiritual Growth Objective No. 5 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s
“I Will Go” strategic plan, “To disciple individuals and families into Spirit-filled lives.” Read more:
IWillGo2020.org.
Provided by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission, which uses Sabbath School
mission offerings to spread the gospel worldwide. Read new stories daily at
AdventistMission.org.
† Disclaimer: Contents of these lessons are not intended to be financial advice but is general commentary based on biblical principles. The reader is encouraged to seek competent professional advice which will suit their particular personal situation.
