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Gaining Efficiency
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The Christian aims to reach the highest attainments for the pur-
pose of doing others good. Knowledge harmoniously blended with a
Christlike character will make a man a light in the world. God works
with human efforts. Those who give all diligence to make their call-
ing and election sure will feel that a superficial knowledge will not
fit them for a position of usefulness. Education balanced by a solid
religious experience fits the child of God to do his appointed work
steadily, firmly, understandingly. He who is learning of the greatest
Educator the world ever knew, will have not only a symmetrical
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Christian character, but a mind trained for effective labor....
God does not want us to be content with lazy, undisciplined
minds, dull thoughts, and loose memories. He wants every teacher
to feel dissatisfied with simply a measure of success and to realize
his need of constant diligence in acquiring knowledge. Our bodies
and souls belong to God, for He has bought them. He has given
us talents and has made it possible for us to acquire more, that we
may be able to help ourselves and others in the way of life. It is the
work of each one to develop and strengthen the gifts that God has
lent him. If all realized this, what a vast difference we should see
in our schools, in our churches, and in our missions! But the larger
number are content with a meager knowledge, a few attainments,
content just to be passable. The necessity of being men like Daniel,
men of influence, men whose characters have become harmonious
by working to bless humanity and glorify God—such a need few
feel, and the result is that there are few fitted for the great want of
the times.
God does not ignore ignorant men; but if such are connected with
Christ, if they are sanctified through the truth, they will be constantly
gathering knowledge. By exerting every power to glorify God, they
will have increased power with which to glorify Him. Those who
are willing to remain in a narrow sphere because God condescended
to accept them when they were there, are very foolish. Yet there are
hundreds and thousands who are doing this very thing.
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