Consideration for those Struggling with Difficulties
For years a lack of wisdom has been shown in dealing with men
who take up and carry forward the Lord’s work in difficult places.
Often these men labor far beyond their strength. They have little
money to invest for the advancement of the work, and they are obliged
to sacrifice in order to carry the work forward. They work for small
wages and practice the strictest economy. They make appeals to the
people for means, and they themselves set an example of liberality.
They give God the praise for what is done, realizing that He is the
Author and the Finisher of their faith, and that it is by His power that
they are enabled to make progress.
Sometimes, after these workers have borne the burden and the heat
of the day, and by patient, persevering effort have established a school
or a sanitarium, or some other interest for the advancement of the work,
the decision is made by their brethren that some other man might do
better, and therefore that he is to take charge of the work they have
been doing. In some cases the decision is made without giving due
consideration and due credit to those who have borne the disagreeable
part of the work, who have labored and prayed and striven, putting
into their efforts all their strength and energy.
God is not pleased with this way of dealing with His workers. He
calls upon His people to hold up the hands of those who build up the
work in new, difficult places, speaking to them words of cheer and
encouragement.
[278]
In their ardor, their zeal for the advancement of the cause, these
workers may make mistakes. They may, in their desire to get means
for the support of needy enterprises, enter into projects that are not for
the best good of the work. The Lord, seeing that these projects would
divert them from what He desires them to do, permits disappointment
to come upon them, crushing their hopes. Money is sacrificed, and
this is a great grief to those who had fondly hoped to gain means for
the support of the cause.
242