Go Forth Into Many Places
143
There is danger that men will receive the counsel of men, when
by so doing they will discard the counsel of God. Oh, what lessons
all must learn before they will understand that God seeth not as man
seeth. The Lord says: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are
your ways My ways.... For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your
thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8, 9
. Unless there is a decided reformation among
the people of God, He will turn His face from them.
My brother, there is need of constant watchfulness, lest, in Battle
Creek, building shall be piled upon building and advantage heaped
upon advantage. The means thus expended will testify against us.
You should put wise plans into operation and scatter the influence that
is centering in Battle Creek, diffusing the light that God has given
you. Blessed are they that sow beside all waters. The more there is
invested in Battle Creek, the greater will be the demand for additional
investment; but this is not in the order of God, and before a very long
period of time shall pass, the mistake of centering interests in Battle
Creek will be made evident.
In adding building to building in Battle Creek, we are encouraging
neglect of other fields. Superabundant advantages there mean destitu-
tion elsewhere. Other parts of the vineyard are robbed of the means
they should have. Means should be invested elsewhere in winning
souls to the truth and in providing houses of worship for them.
God has pointed out the fact that it is the duty of those in Battle
Creek to help His institutions in other places. As a wise steward
of means you should scatter your forces, using the power of your
influence to help those in darkness to know God as He is.
[147]
The Need of Broader Plans
How many towns and cities there are that are utterly neglected. Our
people are injuring themselves by crowding into one place. When trees
in a nursery are crowded thickly together, they cannot grow healthfully
and sturdily. Transplant trees from your thickly planted nursery. God
is not glorified in the centering of so many advantages in one place.
Give room; put your plants in many places, where one will not lean
for support upon another. Give them room to grow. This the Lord
demands of you.