“A laborer should never leave some portion of the work undone because it is not agreeable to perform, thinking that the minister coming next will do it for him. When this is the case, if a second minister follows the first, and presents the claims that God has upon His people, some draw back, saying, ‘The minister who brought us the truth did not mention these things.’ And they become offended because of the word. Some refuse to accept the tithing system; they turn away, and no longer walk with those who believe and love the truth. When other lines are opened before them, they answer, ‘It was not so taught us,’ and they hesitate to move forward. How much better it would have been if the first messenger of truth had faithfully and thoroughly educated these converts in regard to all essential matters, even if fewer had been added to the church under his labors. God would be better pleased to have six thoroughly converted to the truth than to have sixty make a profession and yet not be truly converted.” 1

“The mighty God declares: ‘Ye are cursed with a curse’ (Malachi 3:9). When the one who ministers in word and doctrine sees the people pursuing a course that will bring this curse upon them, how can he ne­glect his duty to give them instruction and warning? Every church member should be taught to be faithful in paying an honest tithe.” 2

Any church under the curse of God will never prosper because it may be said of her that she is “a den of thieves” (Matthew 21:13).

“Those churches who are the most systematic and liberal in sustaining the cause of God are the most prosperous spiritually. True liberality in the follower of Christ identifies his interest with that of his Master. . . .

“In the teachings of Christ He said: ‘If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?’ The spiritual health and prosperity of the church is dependent in a great degree upon her systematic benevolence. It is like the lifeblood which must flow through the whole being, vitalizing every member of the body. It increases love for the souls of our fellow men; for by self-denial and self-sacrifice we are brought into a closer relation to Christ, who for our sakes became poor.” 3

“There is a terrible sin upon us as a people, that we have permitted our church members to dress in a manner inconsistent with their faith. We must arise at once and close the door against the allurements of fashion. Unless we do this, our churches will become demoralized.” 4

“As soon as any have the desire to imitate the fashions of the world, that they do not immediately subdue, just so soon God ceases to acknowledge them as His children.” 5

Neglecting this fundamental belief of dress reform brings nothing good in the church; it demoralizes the spirituality of the church, thus retarding its progress. As stated by Inspiration, any individual sinner who knowingly clings to worldly fashions will not be recognized by God as His child.

“Those who have too little courage to reprove wrong, or who through indolence or lack of interest make no effort to purify the family or the church of God, are held accountable for the evil that may result from their neglect of duty. We are just as responsible for evils that we might have checked in others by exercise of parental or pastoral authority as if the acts had been our own.” 6

“Order should be maintained in our different institutions at ——-. Insubordination should be overruled. None should be retained in the office who have been instructed by Sabbathkeeping parents and have been privileged to hear the truth yet rebel against its teachings. No persons should be connected with the sacred work of God who speak lightly of it or treat our holy faith with disrespect. Those who have been connected with the office for quite a length of time and have had ample opportunity to become acquainted with our faith, yet manifest opposition to the truth, should no longer be retained in the office. Their influence is against the truth if they continue to neglect the light and slight salvation. This very indifference has a chilling influence upon the faith of others to draw them away from God. These impenitent, unimpressible ones should not occupy positions that might be filled by persons who will respect the truth and yield to the influence of the Spirit of God by being so closely connected with this sacred work.” 7

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2).

In all our operations, let us observe order and a system to avoid working like untrained horses—one pushing forward while the other pulls backward. World leaders have well understood the importance of unity; we often hear them emphasizing, “United we stand, divided we fall.” Unity knows no delay. If we are always late for church services or any work to be done at church without any apparent reason, this shows that we are not united with our brethren.

“If each member of the church feels at liberty to move independently of others, taking his own peculiar course, how can the church be in any safety in the hour of danger and peril? The prosperity and very existence of a church depend upon the prompt, united action and mutual confidence of its members. When, at a critical time, one sounds the alarm of danger, there is need of prompt and active work, without stopping to question and canvass the whole subject from end to end, thus letting the enemy gain every advantage by delay, when united action might save many souls from perdition.” 8

“God wants His people to be united in the closest bonds of Christian fellowship; confidence in our brethren is essential to the prosperity of the church; union of action is important in a religious crisis. One imprudent step, one careless action, may plunge the church into difficulties and trials from which it may not recover for years. One member of the church filled with unbelief may give an advantage to the great foe that will affect the prosperity of the entire church, and many souls may be lost as the result. Jesus would have His followers subject one to another; then God can use them as instruments to save one another; for one may not discern the dangers which another’s eye is quick to perceive; but if the undiscerning will in confidence obey the warning, they may be saved great perplexities and trials.” 9

1. 2 Chronicles 20:20: “Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.”

2. Job 8:3–7: “Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice? If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression; if thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty; if thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous. Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.”

3. Psalm 37:25: “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”

4. 2 Samuel 6:11 (compare Hebrews 10:16): “And the ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household.”

5. Job 36:11: “If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.”

Dear brethren and sisters, material prosperity is secondary to spiritual prosperity. May the good Lord help us to esteem more highly spiritual things. Amen.