Where to Put Your Money

"If riches increase, set not your heart upon them." Psalm 62:10

"Of God's people He says, 'Her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the Lord: it shall not be treasured nor laid up.'" (Isaiah 23:18) TM 335

"It is time that deep, earnest thought should be given to laying up treasure in heaven." CS 232

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal." Matthew 6:19, 20

"Give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven." Matthew 19:21

"Last night in vision, I was raising my voice in warning against worldly speculations. I said, 'I invite you to take shares in the greatest mine that has ever been worked.' . . . If we will invest in God's mining stock, the return is sure. . . . By placing it in God's treasury you may ensure for yourselves a revenue from the inexhaustible treasures of His kingdom." CS 243, 244

"Those who really feel an interest in the cause of God, and are willing to venture something for its advancement, will find it a sure and safe investment." 1T 226

"The money which we refuse to invest in the work of the Lord, will perish." 9T 131

Making Money Without Working

"Many look upon labor as drudgery, and they try to obtain a livelihood by scheming rather than by honest toil. This desire to get a living without work opens the door to wretchedness and vice and crime almost without limit." MH 189

"Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labor shall increase."Proverbs 13:11

"The old safe, healthful paths to competence are losing their popularity. The idea of accumulating substantial means by the moderate gains of industy and frugality, is an idea that is scorned by many, as no longer suited to this progressive age. The desire to engage in speculation, in buying up country and city lots, or anything that promises sudden and exorbitant gains, has reached a fever heat." CS 231

Speculation: "The act or practice of buying land, goods, shares, etc., in expectation of selling at a higher price, or of selling with the expectation of repurchasing at a lower price; a trading on anticipated fluctuations in price, as distinguished from trading in which the profit expected is the difference between the retail and wholesale prices." Webster's 1913 Dictionary

"They wish to obtain means without waiting the slow process of persevering toil." 1T 480, 481

"Christians are safe only in acquiring money as God directs, and using it in channels which He can bless." TM 335

"They had gotten into speculation, and they liked that plan better than hard work and going right on as we have done usually, laboring perseveringly and trusting the Lord." CS 234

"Many times . . . 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." CS 235

"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. . . . Carefully and prayerfully studied, God's Word keeps men well-balanced. In this Word we find God's way clearly defined." UL 21

"Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee." Psalm 128:1, 2

Borrowing and Lending

"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another." Romans 13:8

"One should not manage his affairs in a way that will incur debt." CS 256

"When one voluntarily becomes involved in debt, he is entangling himself in one of Satan's nets which he sets for souls." CS 254

"He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in waith to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net." Psalm 10:9

"Shun the incurring of debt as you would shun leprosy." CS 272

"The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth." Psalm 37:21

"A good man sheweth favor, and lendeth." Psalm 112:5

"He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed." Psalm 37:26

"Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away." Matthew 5:42

"Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee." Proverbs 3:28

"When thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge. Thou shalt stand abroad, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring out the ledge abroad unto thee. And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge: In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down." Deuteronomy 24:10-13

"No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge: for he taketh a man's life to pledge." Deuteronomy 24:6

"If thou at all take thy neighbor's raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down: For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious." Exodus 22:26, 27

"Thou shalt not . . . take a widow's raiment to pledge." Deuteronomy 24:17

"At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release. And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbor shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbor, or of his brother; because it is called the Lord's release. Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again: but that which is thine with thy brother thine hand shall release." Deuteronomy 15:1-3

"If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren . . . thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth. Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee. Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him; because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land." Deuteronomy 15:7-11

"Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. . . . If ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? For sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great." Luke 6:30-35

"Christ does not teach us to give indiscriminately to all who ask for charity; but He says, 'Thou shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need;' and this is to be a gift, rather than a loan; for we are to 'lend, hoping for nothing again.'" MB 73

"He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he repay him again." Proverbs 19:17

"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." Luke 6:38

Financial Slavery

"The rich man ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." Proverbs 22:7

"Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth. There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards. And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words." Nehemiah 5:3-6

"If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?" Proverbs 22:27

Usury

"Usury: The sum paid for the use of money, hence interest; not, as in the modern sense, exorbitant interest. The Jews were forbidden to exact usury in their dealings with each other." Easton's Bible Dictionary

"I was shown that the subject of taking usury should be considered by Sabbathkeepers." 1T 534

"If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury." Exodus 22:25

"And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: . . . Take thou no usury of him, or increase: . . . that thy brother may live with thee. Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase." Leviticus 25:35-37

"Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury." Deuteronomy 23:19

"He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor." Proverbs 28:8

"And it shall be . . . as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him. . . . Because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth." Isaiah 24:2-6

"I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury." Jeremiah 15:10

"And I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. . . . I pray you, let us leave off this usury." Nehemiah 5:7, 10

"Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? . . . He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved." Psalm 15:1, 5

Wealth and Riches

"Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, . . . or lest I be poor, and steal." Proverbs 30:8, 9

The false security of wealth:

"The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit." Proverbs 18:11

The instability of wealth:

"Riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven." Proverbs 23:5

"For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?" Proverbs 27:24

"The wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just." Proverbs 13:22

"The fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations. . . . Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; for when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him." Psalm 49:10-17

"Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days." James 5:1-3

The undesirability of wealth:

"Labor not to be rich." Proverbs 23:4

"How much better is it to get wisdom than gold!" Proverbs 16:16

"Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right." Proverbs 16:8

"Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith." Proverbs 15:16

"He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?" Ecclesiastes 5:10, 11

The virtue of contentment:

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5

"Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness." 1 Timothy 6:6-11

The results of greed:

"He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live." Proverbs 15:27

Trying to make money fast:

"He that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent." Proverbs 28:20

"He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him." Proverbs 28:22

Trust in God to provide:

"But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth." Deuteronomy 8:18

True riches:

"There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches." Proverbs 13:7

"In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble." Proverbs 15:6

"When God gave His Son to our world, He endowed human beings with imperishable riches--riches compared with which the treasured wealth of men since the world began is nothingness. Christ came to the earth and stood before the children of men with the hoarded love of eternity, and this is the treasure that, through our connection with Him, we are to receive, to reveal, and to impart." MH 37

Parents, Their Children's Physicians

"No woman should become a mother unless she is capable of being physician to her offspring. How can mothers turn over their tender children to the care of a strange physician, for him to dose them with drugs, the nature of which she has no knowledge. Such a course is a sin in the sight of Heaven. Ignorance is no excuse for parents. Why do not those who take such responsibilities, educate themselves? They should read and investigate with a prayerful heart, until they can understand the wants of their children, and watch with jealous care, least these little sunbeams, which are given them to lighten their pathway, be shrouded in darkness by disease and death. No stranger's hand should be trusted to perform those services for dear ones, which a mother's affection alone can understand. Parents and children should educate themselves in all that concerns their life and health. When children understand the science of human life, then, and not till then, are they prepared to attend to the sciences as taught in the common schools.

"Parents have frequently told me that they knew nothing of the nature of disease, and were their children sick, they should not know what to do for them,--that they had always trusted a physician. Mothers ought to know what to do in any common case of sickness of their children. It is a sin for them not to know. Who should better understand the wants of a sick child than its parents, especially the mother? And yet parents plead ignorance, and if their dear children are slightly indisposed, they do not know what to do, and send for the doctor, who deals out his concentrated poison with a lavish hand. These lessen the child's hold on life, and if they do not actually cause it death, they obstruct nature's efforts, and break down some part of her fine machinery, which can never be repaired, and the victim is a sufferer as long as life lasts.

"In nine cases out of ten, the indisposition of children can be traced to some indulgence of the perverted appetites. Perhaps it is an exposure to cold, want of fresh air, irregularity in eating, or improper clothing; and all the parents need do, is to remove the cause, and secure for their children a period of quiet and rest, or abstain for a short period of time from food. An agreeable bath of a proper temperature, will remove impurities from the skin, and then unpleasant symptoms may soon disappear; and all of this, too, without poisonous drugs, or having a doctor's fee to pay.

"Many parents, rather than to take the trouble to thoroughly investigate the cause of their children's indisposition, turn them over to the doctor, and administer anything he may choose to prescribe. If the anxious parent ventures to make an inquiry in regard to the drug, she is told it is 'perfectly harmless;' that if it does them no special good, 'it will not injure them.' Concentrated poisons are dealt out, the names of which are concealed in some technical terms, which the parents know nothing of; and because of their inexcusable ignorance, the lives of their children are sacrificed, and the parents too frequently charge their afflictions to Providence.

"In such cases perhaps, if nature had been left to herself, she would have recovered the abuse the system had suffered, but she was not allowed the privilege. A poisonous drug is introduced into the system, binding down the effects of nature, until she is compelled to give up the struggle. Do the parents then see their folly, and awake and investigate for themselves, feeling that their children are too dear to be trusted in a stranger's hands to receive any mixture he may please to deal out? No, they seem blinded, and infatuated; habits and customs, like iron bands, gird them about, and they make no effort to break them." The Health Reformer, Volume 1, Number 3, October, 1866.

"When Moses presented before the Lord the sad difficulties of the children of Israel, He did not present some new remedy, but called their attention to that which was at hand; for there was a bush or shrub which He had created that was to be cast into the water to make the fountain sweet and pure. . . . God has provided a balm for every wound. There is a balm in Gilead, there is a physician there." 1BC 1102.