https://ssnet.org/lessons/18a/less11.html
Agree or disagree that we need to borrow money to buy a car? How could buying a car be considered differently than buying a house?
What about a church? How far should one go into debt for buying a church? One went 4 million. Hmmm... Wise?

Implying that going into debt involves a certain degree of 'unwiseness'?

Why does he (Goldstein, no doubt) use such constructs? What if he had said,
But it must be done wisely, with the intent of getting out of the debt as soon as possible.

But by using "as wisely as possible" requires it to mean something differently.
The recent construct, "Honest" tithe, is brought to mind...

The Memory Text shows that debt involves more than just money:

Memory Text:

“Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:7, 8, NIV).

From a few lessons back Friday's February 23:

Did anyone else stumble over trying to understand the lesson's version and so looked it up? That is, what could, "cannot be given without merit" mean? Can be given with merit?
Why did he change the words?
Is he trying to say we earn merit by giving money to the church? Ellen White is contrasting opposites, but he is making it into parallel comparisons.

Tuesday's

Who doesn't live from paycheck to paycheck - other than those who die?

If it means that some spend up all their income, people can make 300K a year and be dead broke. The amount of income does not reflect whether someone lives within their means.

"Let us not refuse Him that which, though it cannot be given without merit.

Give the benefit of the doubt.
I think the author got confused and thus ended up with double negatives.
Seems he probably had the right meaning in his head that our giving is without merit.
Not realizing he accidentally put in double negatives which end up as a positive.

----Take out the double negative either way and it is correct.
though it is given without merit.
though it cannot be given with merit.

Graphically, from the positive angle:

Time is rapidly passing into eternity. Let us give to God that which is His own. Let us give Him:

1. our whole heart
2. our intellect
3. our money

They are His by creation and redemption. All we have are His.

Therefore, we cannot them to Him in order to receive a merit badge "in recognition of our charity"; but if we withhold them from Him, we will only ruin ourselves for all eternity.

So then, though we give without thought of reward, yet our reward for giving is sure.

It's a paradox. They cannot be given with merit, though they are never given without merit.

///

Good point, James.

Perhaps you're right. Perhaps he doesn't know about copying and pasting.

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind."
"For in Him we move and live, and have our being, as also some of you on poets have said, we are also His offspring.
"Therefore, be not unwise, but understand what the will of God is.
"And whatever you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord, not to men.

To paraphrase and personalize a quote from Desire of Ages page 103.

When we take the time to look upon the King of the universe in His beauty, self is forgotten.
When we behold the majesty of holiness, our self righteous pride is laid low and we feel inefficient and unworthy. Now, depending upon the One we have been in close communion with, we are prepared to go forth as Heaven's messenger, unawed by the human, because we have looked upon the Divine. We could stand erect and fearless in the presence of influential people, because we had bowed low before the King of kings.

The main idea centers on who do we love the most -- God or self?

The way for love for God to grow in hearts and minds is by fellowshipping with HIM, daily, by reading His letters and talking with Him through prayer.