March 1, 1905
Practical Instruction
EGW
What can we say that will convince those who know the truth that if they would enter into eternal life, they must obey the words of Christ?BTS March 1, 1905, par. 1
“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought [no anxious, complaining thought] for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?”BTS March 1, 1905, par. 2
The health of the body is to be carefully guarded. The fashions of this degenerate age are not to be followed, regardless of the injury that these fashions do to the body that Christ has purchased at an infinite cost. “Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?” He who died for human beings speaks to every one in these words, reproving those who give so much time and thought to dress, to the neglect of the soul's highest interests.BTS March 1, 1905, par. 3
“Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? And which of you by taking thought can add one cubit to his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”BTS March 1, 1905, par. 4
In these words the great Master-worker speaks to every one. There are many who spend upon dress large sums of money, which ought to be used to feed and clothe those who are suffering from hunger and cold. Many of those for whom Christ gave His life are without the cheapest, most common clothing, while others are spending thousands of dollars in the effort to satisfy the never-ending demands of fashion.BTS March 1, 1905, par. 5
Even among those who profess to be children of God there are those who spend more than is necessary upon dress. We should dress neatly and tastefully, but my sisters, leave off the unnecessary trimmings, and lay aside the means thus saved for the advancement of the cause of God. Learn the lesson of self-denial, and teach this lesson to your children. Every penny is needed now, in the work that must be done. The necessities of the suffering must be relieved; the naked must be clothed and the hungry fed; and the truth for this time must be proclaimed to those who know it not. By denying ourselves of that which is not necessary, you may have a part in this great work now being done.BTS March 1, 1905, par. 6