Work for Church Members
We have a message from the Lord to bear to the world, a message
that is to be borne in the rich fullness of the Spirit’s power. Let our
ministers see the need of seeking to save the lost. Direct appeals
are to be made to the unconverted. “Why eateth your Master with
publicans and sinners?” the Pharisees asked Christ’s disciples. And the
Saviour responded: “I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners
to repentance.”
Matthew 9:11, 13
. This is the work He has given us.
And never was there greater need of it than at the present time.
God has not given His ministers the work of setting the churches
right. No sooner is this work done, apparently, than it has to be done
over again. Church members that are thus looked after and labored for
become religious weaklings. If nine tenths of the effort that has been
put forth for those who know the truth had been put forth for those
who have never heard the truth, how much greater would have been
the advancement made! God has withheld His blessings because His
people have not worked in harmony with His directions.
It weakens those who know the truth for our ministers to expend
on them the time and talent that should be given to the unconverted. In
many of our churches in the cities the minister preaches Sabbath after
Sabbath, and Sabbath after Sabbath the church members come to the
house of God with no words to tell of blessings received because of
blessings imparted. They have not worked during the week to carry out
the instruction given them on the Sabbath. So long as church members
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make no effort to give to others the help given them, great spiritual
feebleness must result.
The greatest help that can be given our people is to teach them to
work for God, and to depend on Him, not on the ministers. Let them
learn to work as Christ worked. Let them join His army of workers
and do faithful service for Him.
There are times when it is fitting for our ministers to give on the
Sabbath, in our churches, short discourses, full of the life and love
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