Chapter 6—Lifestyle and Activities of the Remnant
A Spirit of Service and Self-Sacrifice
Long has God waited for the spirit of service to take possession of
the whole church so that everyone shall be working for Him according
to his ability. When the members of the church of God do their
appointed work in the needy fields at home and abroad, in fulfillment
of the gospel commission, the whole world will soon be warned, and
the Lord Jesus will return to this earth with power and great glory.—
The Acts of the Apostles, 111
(1911).
Everywhere there is a tendency to substitute the work of organi-
zations for individual effort. Human wisdom tends to consolidation,
to centralization, to the building up of great churches and institutions.
Multitudes leave to institutions and organizations the work of benevo-
lence; they excuse themselves from contact with the world, and their
hearts grow cold. They become self-absorbed and unimpressible. Love
for God and man dies out of the soul.
[76]
Christ commits to His followers an individual work—a work that
cannot be done by proxy. Ministry to the sick and the poor, the giving
of the gospel to the lost, is not to be left to committees or organized
charities. Individual responsibility, individual effort, personal sacrifice,
is the requirement of the gospel.—
The Ministry of Healing, 147
(1905).
“Occupy Till I Come”
Christ says, “Occupy till I come” [
Luke 19:13
]. It may be but a
few years until our life’s history shall close, but we must occupy till
then.—
The Review and Herald, April 21, 1896
.
Christ would have everyone educate himself to calmly contemplate
His second appearing. All are to search the Word of God daily, but not
neglect present duties.—
Letter 28, 1897
.
Christ declared that when He comes some of His waiting people
will be engaged in business transactions. Some will be sowing in the
field, others reaping and gathering in the harvest, and others grinding
at the mill. It is not God’s will that His elect shall abandon life’s duties
50