Planning for a Permanent Work
75
titude, everything we undertake shows imperfection, and the work
is constantly marred. God is not glorified however good the motive.
There is a want of wisdom which is too plainly revealed. The worker
complains of constantly having too heavy burdens to bear, when God
is not pleased with his taking these burdens; and he makes his own
life one of worriment and anxiety and weariness, because he will not
learn the lessons Christ has given him: to wear His yoke and bear His
burdens rather than the yoke and burdens of his own creating....
God wants intelligent workers, doing their work not hurriedly but
carefully and thoroughly, always preserving the humility of Jesus.
Those who put thought and painstaking into the higher duties, should
put care and thought into the smaller duties, showing exactitude and
diligence. Oh, how much neglected work is done, how much leaving
things at loose ends because there is a constant desire to take on
greater work. The work is slurred over that relates to the service of
God, because they pile so much work before them that there is nothing
done thoroughly. But all the work must bear the scrutiny of the Judge
of all the earth. The smaller duties connected with the service of the
Master assume importance because it is Christ’s service.—
Letter 48,
1886
.
No New Interests Till Others Bound Off—We must not plan for
large beginnings while we have so little power to complete that which
is already begun. Let not new enterprises come in before their time, to
absorb in other places the means that ought to be used to build up the
work in_____. The interests in that place must be firmly established
before other territory is entered.—
Letter 87, 1902
.
[82]
Maintaining Interest for the Message—The experiences of this
meeting, with what has been presented to me at various times regarding
the holding of camp meetings in large cities, lead me to advise that a
larger number of camp meetings be held each year, even though some
of them are small; for these meetings will be a powerful means of
arresting the attention of the masses. By camp meetings held in the
cities, thousands will be called out to hear the invitation to the feast,
“Come; for all things are now ready.”
After arousing an interest, we must not cut these meetings short,
pulling down the tents, leaving the people to think that the meeting is
over, just at the time when hundreds are becoming interested. It is just
then that the greatest good may be accomplished by faithful, earnest