Basic HTML Version
Why so Many Idlers?, April 25
You shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria
and to the end of the earth.
Acts 1:8
, R.S.V.
In the trust given to the first disciples, believers in every age have
shared. Everyone who has received the gospel has been given sacred truth
to impart to the world. God’s faithful people have always been aggressive
missionaries, consecrating their resources to the honor of His name, and
wisely using their talents in His service....
The members of God’s church are to be zealous of good works, separat-
ing from worldly ambition, and walking in the footsteps of Him who went
about doing good. With hearts filled with sympathy and compassion, they
are to minister to those in need of help, bringing to sinners a knowledge
of the Saviour’s love. Such work calls for laborious effort, but it brings a
rich reward. Those who engage in it with sincerity of purpose will see souls
won to the Saviour....
“The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say,
Come.”
Revelation 22:17
. The charge to give this invitation includes the
entire church. Everyone who has heard the invitation is to echo the message
from hill and valley, saying, “Come.”...
Hundreds, yea, thousands, who have heard the message of salvation,
are still idlers in the market place, when they might be engaged in some
line of active service. To these Christ is saying, “Why stand ye here all
the day idle?” and He adds, “Go ye also into the vineyard.”
Matthew 20:6,
7
. Why is it that many more do not respond to the call? Is it because
they think themselves excused in that they do not stand in the pulpit? Let
them understand that there is a large work to be done outside the pulpit by
thousands of consecrated lay members.
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. “This gospel of the kingdom
shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then
shall the end come.”
Matthew 24:14
.
[124]
124