104
Christian Service
He prizes goodness and faithfulness more than the greatness of the
work accomplished.—
Testimonies for the Church 2:510, 511
.
Do not pass by the little things, and look for a large work. You
might do successfully the small work, but fail utterly in attempting
a large work, and fall into discouragement. Take hold wherever you
see that there is work to be done. Whether you are rich or poor, great
or humble, God calls you into active service for Him. It will be by
doing with your might what your hands find to do that you will develop
talent and aptitude for the work. And it is by neglecting your daily
opportunities that you become fruitless and withered. This is why there
are so many fruitless trees in the garden of the Lord.—
Testimonies for
the Church 9:129
.
The Lord desires us to use every gift we have; and if we do this,
we shall have greater gifts to use. He does not supernaturally endow
us with the qualifications we lack; but while we use that which we
have, He will work with us to increase and strengthen every faculty.
By every wholehearted, earnest sacrifice for the Master’s service, our
powers will increase.—
Christ’s Object Lessons, 353, 354
.
Christ’s heart is cheered by the sight of those who are poor in
every sense of the term; cheered by His view of the ill-used ones
who are meek; cheered by the seemingly unsatisfied hungering after
righteousness, by the inability of many to begin. He welcomes, as
it were, the very condition of things that would discourage many
ministers.—
Gospel Workers, 37
.
We need not go to heathen lands, or even leave the narrow circle
of the home, if it is there that our duty lies, in order to work for Christ.
We can do this in the home circle, in the church, among those with
[104]
whom we associate, and with whom we do business.—
Steps to Christ,
81
.
If we are making the life and teachings of Christ our study, ev-
ery passing event will furnish a text for an impressive discourse.—
Testimonies for the Church 9:63
.
The life on earth is the beginning of the life in heaven; education
on earth is an initiation into the principles of heaven; the life-work here
is a training for the life-work there. What we now are, in character
and holy service, is the sure foreshadowing of what we shall be.—
Education, 307
.