90
Christian Service
were professedly children of the light and of the truth engaged my
attention....
Another book was opened, wherein were recorded the sins of
those who profess the truth. Under the general heading of selfishness
came every other sin.... One class were registered as cumberers of
the ground. As the piercing eye of the Judge rested upon these, their
sins of neglect were distinctly revealed. With pale, quivering lips they
acknowledged that they had been traitors to their holy trust. They had
had warnings and privileges but they had not heeded nor improved
them. They could now see that they had presumed too much upon the
mercy of God. True, they had not such confessions to make as had the
vile and basely corrupt; but, like the fig tree, they were cursed because
[88]
they bore no fruit, because they had not put to use the talents intrusted
to them. This class had made self supreme, laboring only for selfish
interests. They were not rich toward God, not having responded to His
claims upon them. Although professing to be servants of Christ, they
brought no souls to Him. Had the cause of God been dependent on
their efforts, it would have languished; for they not only withheld the
means lent them of God, but they withheld themselves.... They had
allowed others to do the work in the Master’s vineyard, and to bear the
heaviest responsibilities, while they were selfishly serving their own
temporal interests....
Said the Judge, “All will be justified by their faith, and judged by
their works.” How vividly then appeared their neglect, and how wise
the arrangement of God in giving to every man a work to do to promote
the cause and save his fellow men. Each was to demonstrate a living
faith in his family and in his neighborhood, by showing kindness to the
poor, sympathizing with the afflicted, engaging in missionary labor,
and by aiding the cause of God with his means. But, like Meroz, the
curse of God rested upon them for what they had not done. They had
loved that work which would bring the greatest profit in this life; and
opposite their names in the ledger devoted to good works there was a
mournful blank.—
Testimonies for the Church 4:384-386
.
More Required of Us Than of Our Fathers
Greater light shines upon us than shone upon our fathers. We
cannot be accepted or honored of God in rendering the same service,