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====== Objection: Literature is Too Expensive ======

===== The Value of a Soul =====

> Now is the time to use means for God. Now is the time to be rich in good works, laying up in store for ourselves a good foundation against the time to come, that we may lay hold on eternal life. **One soul saved in the kingdom of God is of more value than all earthly riches.** [[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p255.774#highlight=255.774,0:255.774,273|PH159 212.2]]

> The cross of Calvary alone can reveal the worth of the soul. No man can correctly estimate its value unless he is able to comprehend the height and depth of the glory from which Christ descended that man might be saved and join in the glad song of triumph and everlasting praise to God and the Lamb. **The price of man’s ransom could be paid only by One equal with God**, the spotless Son of the infinite Father. Unless this sacrifice had been made, souls would have perished. [[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p821.15303#highlight=821.15303,0:821.15303,472|RH October 20,  1896, par. 14]]

> We are living in a special period of this earth’s history. A great work must be done in a very short time, and every Christian is to act a part in sustaining this work. God is calling for men who will consecrate themselves to the work of soulsaving. When we begin to comprehend what a sacrifice Christ made in order to save a perishing world, there will be seen **a mighty wrestling to save souls**. Oh, that all our churches might see and realize the **infinite sacrifice of Christ**! [[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p2004.2018&index=0#highlight=2004.2018,0:2004.2018,477|3TT 344.4]]

> A consistent faith is rare among rich men. Genuine faith, sustained by works, is seldom found. But all who possess this faith will be men who will not lack influence. They will copy after Christ; they will possess that disinterested benevolence, that interest in the work of saving souls, that He had. **The followers of Christ should value souls as He valued them**. Their sympathies should be with the work of their dear Redeemer, and they should labor to save the purchase of His blood, at any sacrifice. **What are money, houses, and lands in comparison with even one soul?** [[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p120.2864#highlight=120.2864,0:120.2864,572|2T 663.2]]

> In the line of furniture, do not purchase one article merely to make a show. Get things that will be useful, and that will bear handling. Educate the people to practice self-denial. Let it be considered that **every dollar may represent a soul**, for someone might be brought to a knowledge of the truth through the use of that dollar in the missionary work. We may have very nice taste, and enjoy that which is beautiful and artistic; but had not Christ the very finest, purest, holiest taste? His home was heaven, yet He denied Himself; humiliation marked all His life, from the manger to Calvary. In the beginning of the work, we must not reproduce the very things that the Lord has condemned in America, the needless, extravagant expenditure of money to gratify pride and love of display. Let everything of this order be scrupulously shunned. [[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p123.1012#highlight=123.1012,0:123.1012,842|TM 179.1]]

===== Expense or Investment? =====

Some say that evangelism is expensive. Perhaps it is, when it is run haphazardly without attention to the details God has clearly laid out before us. Consider two scenarios:

1) People are baptized who are not yet disciples of Jesus. They are not faithful in returning their tithes and offerings and become a burden to the church.

2) People are baptized as faithful disciples of Jesus, whose lives are already changed. They are faithful in returning their tithes and offerings and help to lift the burdens of the church.

The [[https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1967/12/|December 1967 Ministry Magazine]] contains an article titled "[[https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1967/12/evangelism-is-it-too-expensive|Evangelism--Is It Too Expensive?]]" Many people think that evangelism costs too much money. Commonly, they will divide up the cost of the campaign by the number of baptisms and calculate a cost per baptism. In this article, the author Herman Bauman contests the common claim that evangelism is expensive. He says, "Evangelism does not really cost; it pays."

He cites examples of increased tithes and offerings after evangelistic campaigns. If the new members were baptized as true disciples, they will contribute their tithes and offerings and more than repay the cost to bring them into the church.

While the goal of evangelism is to save souls and not to make money, evangelism is definitely worth the investment, especially when considering the value of even one saved soul.

> A flood of light is shining from the word of God, and  there must be an awakening to neglected opportunities. When all are faithful in giving back to God His own in tithes and offerings, the way will be opened for the world to hear the message for this time. If the hearts of God’s people were filled with love for Christ, if every church member were thoroughly imbued with the spirit of self-sacrifice, if all manifested thorough earnestness, **there would be no lack of funds** for home or foreign missions. **Our resources would be multiplied**; **a thousand doors of usefulness would be opened**, and we should be invited to enter. Had the purpose of God been carried out by His people in giving to the world the message of mercy, Christ would, ere this, have come to the earth, and the saints would have received their welcome into the city of God. [[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p118.2497#highlight=118.2497,0:118.2497,841|6T 449.4]]

===== Long-term or Short-term? =====

In the context of an evangelistic campaign:

Consider the money spent and consumed on:

  * Rent for loudspeakers
  * Rent and fuel for the generator
  * Rent for chairs
  * Food
  * Travel

Now, consider money spent on literature. Literature remains useful long-term. It may be passed along from person to person, and even from village to village. 

===== Producers or Consumers? =====

> Often the talent of means is buried. Money lying unused in banks is regarded by the Lord as a buried talent. God wants His followers to use the talent of means in His service. We should do our part to carry forward the different lines of work in all parts of the earth. A great work is to be done in the cities. Camp-meetings are to be held in many places. Those who have the talent of means may multiply it by using it [in] the work of giving to the world the message of truth for this time. When through the instrumentality of our one talent some one is brought into the truth, that **one talent is doubled**. And when this person brings others into the truth, there is a **still further increase of talents**. [[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p14067.9799061#highlight=14067.9799061,0:14067.9799061,703|17LtMs, Ms 77, 1902, par. 51]]

> Those who preach the gospel without putting the whole being—heart, mind, soul, and strength—into their work, are consumers and not producers. God calls for men who realize that they must put forth earnest action, men who bring thought, zeal, prudence, capability, and the attributes of Christ’s character, into their work. The saving of souls is a vast work, which calls for the employment of every talent, every gift of grace. Those engaged in this work should constantly increase in efficiency. They should have an earnest desire to  strengthen their powers, realizing that they will be weak without a constantly increasing supply of grace. They should seek to attain larger and still larger results in their work.
> When this is the experience of our workers, fruit will be seen. Many souls will be brought into the truth. [[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p63.1650(63.1653)&index=0#highlight=63.1650,0:63.1653,106|17MR 306.1]]

> **When converted to Christ, many will become agencies** in the hand of God to work for others of their own class. They will feel that a dispensation of the gospel is committed to them for those who have made this world their all. **Time and money** will be consecrated to God, **talent and influence** will be devoted to the work of winning souls to Christ. [[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p135.1077&index=0#highlight=135.1077,0:135.1077,345|MH 216.3]]

===== Principles of Financial Success =====

See [[..:what_do_you_have_in_your_hand|What Do You Have In Your Hand?]].

> From the beginning of our missionary work, we have been much perplexed to know how we could secure funds adequate to the support of missionary enterprises in the fields which Providence has opened before us. Missionary work is to be widely extended, and those who believe the truth should avoid using their means in purchasing that which is unnecessary. We are not to study our convenience, but rather our necessities. We shall have to bind about our wants in order that there shall be means in the treasury to raise the standard of truth in new territory. Seek God; believe in him who has infinite resources. If we move wisely, putting our ability into the work, the good hand of God will be upon us. We must push forward the work, not waiting to see the funds in the treasury before we undertake it. God forbid that when his providence summons us to enter the fields white already to harvest, that our steps should be retarded by the cry, “Our treasury is  exhausted. We have no means to sustain the workers that are already in the field, and it is impossible for us to enlarge our operations.” [[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p407.231#highlight=407.231,0:407.231,1096|SpTA03 50.1]]

> In acquiring an education, many students would gain a most valuable training if they would become self-sustaining. Instead of incurring debts or depending on the self-denial of their parents, let young men and young women depend on themselves. They will thus learn the value of money, the value of time, strength, and opportunities, and will be under far less temptation to indulge idle and spendthrift habits. The lessons of economy, industry, self-denial, practical business management, and steadfastness of purpose, thus mastered, would prove a most important part of their equipment for the battle of life. [[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p1976.938#highlight=1976.938,0:1976.938,610|TEd 134.5]]

> As new fields are opened, the calls for means are constantly increasing. If ever we needed to exercise economy it is now. All who labor in the cause should realize the importance of closely following the Saviour’s example of self-denial and economy. They should see in the means they handle a trust which God has committed to them, and they should feel under obligation to exercise tact and financial ability in the use of their Lord’s money. Every penny should be carefully treasured. A cent seems like a trifle, but a hundred cents make a dollar, and rightly spent may be the means of saving a soul from death. If all the means which has been wasted by our own people in self-gratification had been devoted to the cause of God, there would be no empty treasuries, and missions could be established in all parts of the world.
> Let the members of the church now put away their pride and lay off their ornaments. Each should keep a missionary box at hand, and drop into it every penny he is tempted to waste in self-indulgence. But something more must be done than merely to dispense with superfluities. Self-denial must be practiced. Some of our comfortable and desirable things must be sacrificed. The preachers must sharpen up their message, not merely assailing self-indulgence, and pride in dress, but presenting Jesus, His life of self-denial and sacrifice. Let love, piety, faith be cherished in the heart, and the precious fruits will appear in the life. [[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p430.207(430.208)&index=0#highlight=430.207,0:430.208,633|1NL 29.4]]

> Men will invest means in that which they value the most, and which they think will bring them the greatest profits. When men will run great risks and invest much in worldly enterprises, but are unwilling to venture or invest much in the cause of God to send the truth to their fellow-men, they give evidence that they value their earthly treasure just as much more highly than the heavenly as their works show... GW92 51.3