Chapter 24—Words to Those in Advanced Years
The Afternoon Sun—Mellow and Productive
The true minister of Christ should make continual improvement.
The afternoon sun of his life may be more mellow and productive of
fruit than the morning sun. It may continue to increase in size and
brightness until it drops behind the western hills. My brethren in the
ministry, it is better, far better, to die of hard work in some home or
foreign mission field, than to rust out with inaction. Be not dismayed at
difficulties; be not content to settle down without studying and without
making improvement. Search the Word of God diligently for subjects
that will instruct the ignorant and feed the flock of God. Become so
full of the matter that you will be able to bring forth from the treasure
house of His Word things new and old.
Your experience should not be ten, twenty, or thirty years old, but
you should have a daily, living experience, that you may be able to
give to each his portion of meat in due season. Look forward, not
backward. Never be obliged to tug at your memory in order to relate
some past experience. What does that amount to today to you or to
others? While you treasure all that is good in your past experience, you
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want a brighter, fresher experience as you pass along. Do not boast of
what you have done in the past, but show what you can do now. Let
your works and not your words praise you. Prove the promise of God
that “those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in
the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they
shall be fat and flourishing; to shew that the Lord is upright: he is my
rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him” (
Psalm 92:13-15
). Keep
your heart and mind young by continuous exercise.—
The Review and
Herald, April 6, 1886
.
No Excuse for Relaxing Self-Discipline
I have heard those who have been in the faith for years, say that they
used to be able to endure trial and difficulty, but since the infirmities of
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