Testimonies for the Church Volume 8
to see man looking only upon his own things, closing his eyes to the
interests of others.
What One Institution can Do for Another
In the providence of God the Battle Creek Sanitarium has been
greatly prospered, and during this coming year those in charge
should restrict their wants. Instead of doing all that they desire
to do in enlarging their facilities, they should do unselfish work
[138] for God, reaching out the hand of charity to interests centered in
other places. What benefit they could confer upon the Rural Health
Retreat, at St. Helena, by giving a few thousand dollars to this
enterprise! Such a donation would give courage to those in charge,
inspiring them to move forward and upward.
Donations were made to the Battle Creek Sanitarium in its earlier
history, and should not this sanitarium consider carefully what it
can do for its sister institution on the Pacific Coast? My brethren
in Battle Creek, does it not seem in accordance with God’s order to
restrict your wants, to curtail your building operations, not enlarging
our institutions in that center? Why should you not feel that it is
your privilege and duty to help those who need help?
A Reformation Needed
I have been instructed that a reformation is needed along these
lines, that more liberality should prevail among us. There is constant
danger that even Seventh-day Adventists will be overcome with
selfish ambition and will desire to center all the means and power
in the interests over which they especially preside. There is danger
that men will permit a jealous feeling to arise in their hearts and
that they will become envious of interests that are as important as
those which they are handling. Those who cherish the grace of pure
Christianity cannot look with indifference upon any part of the work
in the Lord’s great vineyard. Those who are truly converted will
have an equal interest in the work in all parts of the vineyard and
will be ready to help wherever help is needed.
It is selfishness that hinders men from sending help to those
places where the work of God is not as prosperous as it is in the
Centering Too Much in Battle Creek 137
institution over which they have supervision. Those who bear responsibilities
should carefully seek for the good of every branch of
the cause and work of God. They should encourage and sustain the [139]
interests in other fields as well as the interests in their own. Thus
the bonds of brotherhood would be strengthened between members
of God’s family on earth, and the door would be closed to the petty
jealousies and heartburnings that position and prosperity are sure to
arouse unless the grace of God controls the heart.
“This I say,” Paul wrote: “He which soweth sparingly shall reap
also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also
bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let
him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful
giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye,
always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good
work;” “being enriched in everything to all bountifulness, which
causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of
this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant
also by many thanksgivings unto God; whiles by the experiment of
this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto
the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and
unto all men; and by their prayer for you, which long after you for
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