Our Duty to the Missionary Work
The members of the church are not all called to labor in foreign
lands, but all have a part to act in the great work of giving light to the
world. The gospel of Christ is aggressive and diffusive. In the day of
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God not one will be excused for having been shut up to his own selfish
interests. There is work for every mind and for every hand. There is
a variety of work, adapted to different minds and varied capabilities.
Every one who is connected with God will impart light to others. If
there are any who have no light to give, it is because they have no
connection with the Source of light.
Ministers should not do the work which belongs to the church, thus
wearying themselves, and preventing others from performing their
duty. They should teach the members how to labor in the church and
in the community. There is work for all to do in their own borders, to
build up the church, to make the social meetings interesting, and to
train the youth of ability to become missionaries. All should cultivate
spirituality and self-sacrifice, and by their means and their earnest
prayers assist those who enter new and difficult fields. They should
co-operate actively with the minister in his labors, making the section
of country around them their field of missionary effort; and the larger
churches should labor to build up and encourage those that are weak
or few in numbers.
This work has been neglected. Is it any marvel that God does
not visit the churches with greater manifestations of his power, when
so large a number are shut in to themselves, engrossed in their own
interests? It is thus that their piety becomes tame and weak, and they
grow bigoted and self-caring. It is in working for others that they will
keep their own souls alive. If they will become co-laborers with Jesus,
we shall see the light in our churches steadily burning brighter and
brighter, sending forth its rays to penetrate the darkness beyond their
own borders.
A close sympathy with Christ in his mission of love and mercy,
would bring the workers into sympathy with one another, and there
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