Balancing Cautions
479
souls that are perishing. This will have its place in connection with the
proclamation of the third angel’s message and the reception of Bible
truth. But there is danger of loading down everyone with this class
of work, because of the intensity with which it is carried on. There is
danger of leading men to center their energies in this line, when God
has called them to another work.
The great question of our duty to humanity is a serious one, and
much of the grace of God is needed in deciding how to work so as to
accomplish the greatest amount of good. Not all are called to begin
their work by laboring among the lowest classes. God does not require
His workmen to obtain their education and training in order to devote
themselves exclusively to these classes.
The working of God is manifest in a way which will establish
confidence that the work is of His devising, and that sound principles
underlie every action. But I have had instruction from God that there
is danger of planning for the outcasts in a way which will lead to
spasmodic and excitable movements. These will produce no really
beneficial results. A class will be encouraged to do a kind of work
which will amount to the least in strengthening all parts of the work
by harmonious action.
[549]
The gospel invitation is to be given to the rich and the poor, the
high and the low, and we must devise means for carrying the truth into
new places, and to all classes of people. The Lord bids us, “Go out
into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that My
house may be filled.” He says, “Begin in the highways; thoroughly
work the highways; prepare a company who in unity with you can
go forth to do the very work that Christ did in seeking and saving the
lost.”
Christ preached the gospel to the poor, but He did not confine His
labors to this class. He worked for all who would hear His Word—not
only the publican and the outcasts, but the rich and cultivated Pharisee,
the Jewish nobleman, the centurion, and the Roman ruler. This is the
kind of work I have ever seen should be done. We are not to strain
every spiritual sinew and nerve to work for the lowest classes, and
make that work the all in all. There are others whom we must bring to
the Master, souls who need the truth, who are bearing responsibilities,
and who will work with all their sanctified ability for the high places
as well as for the low places.