Principles of the Gospel Must Control Us

Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, “Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none.
Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?” Luke 13:7, NKJV.

The Lord would be pleased to have His people more considerate than they now are, more merciful and more helpful to one another. When the love of Christ is in the heart, each will be tenderly regardful of the interests of others. Brothers and sisters will not take advantage of each other in business transactions. They will not charge exorbitant interest because they see their brothers or sisters in a close place where they must have help.

Those who will take advantage of the necessities of another prove conclusively that they are not governed by the principles of
the gospel of Christ. Their course is recorded in the books of heaven as fraud and dishonesty; and wherever these principles rule, the blessing of the Lord will not come into the heart. Such persons are receiving the impress of the great adversary rather than that of the Spirit of God. But those who shall finally inherit the heavenly
kingdom must be transformed by divine grace. They must be pure in heart and life and possess symmetrical characters....

All the means you may accumulate, even though it should be millions, will not be sufficient to pay a ransom for your soul. Then do not remain in impenitence and unbelief, and ... defeat the gracious purposes of God; do not force from His reluctant hand destruction of your property or affliction of your person.

How many there are who are now taking a course which must erelong lead to just such visitations of judgment. They live on day by
day, week by week, year by year, for their own selfish interest. Their influence and means, accumulated through God-given skill and tact,
are used upon themselves and their families without thought of their gracious Benefactor. Nothing is allowed to flow back to the Giver....

At last His patience with these unfaithful stewards is exhausted; and He brings all their selfish, worldly schemes to an abrupt termina-
tion, showing them that as they have gathered for their own glory, He can scatter; and they are helpless to resist His power.—Testimonies
for the Church 5:350, 351.