Dangers and Duty of Ministers
349
The people of God generally feel a united interest in the spread
of the truth. They cheerfully contribute toward a liberal support for
those who labor in word and doctrine. And I saw that it is the duty
of those who have the responsibility of distributing means, to see
that the liberalities of the church are not squandered. Some of these
liberal brethren have been laboring for years with shattered nerves and
broken-down constitutions, caused by excessive labor in the past to
obtain possessions here, and now as they freely give a portion of the
substance which has cost them so much, it is the duty of those who
labor in word and doctrine to manifest a zeal and self-sacrifice at least
equal to that shown by these brethren.
God’s servants must go out free. They must know in whom they
trust. There is power in Christ and His salvation to make them free
men; and unless they are free in Him, they cannot build up His church
and gather in souls. Will God send out a man to rescue souls from
the snare of Satan when his own feet are entangled in the net? God’s
servants must not be wavering. If their feet are sliding, how can they
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say to those of a fearful heart: “Be strong”? God would have His
servants hold up the feeble hands, and strengthen the wavering. Those
who are not prepared to do this would better first labor for themselves
and pray until they are endowed with power from on high.
God is displeased with the lack of self-denial in some of His ser-
vants. They have not the burden of the work upon them. They seem to
be in a deathlike stupor. Angels of God stand amazed and ashamed
of this lack of self-denial and perseverance. While the Author of our
salvation was laboring and suffering for us, He denied Himself, and
His whole life was one continued scene of toil and privation. He could
have passed His days on earth in ease and plenty, and appropriated
to Himself the pleasures of this life; but He considered not His own
convenience. He lived to do others good. He suffered to save others
from suffering. He endured to the end and finished the work which
was given Him to do. All this was to save us from ruin. And now, can
it be that we, the unworthy objects of so great love, will seek a better
position in this life than was given to our Lord? Every moment of our
lives we have been partakers of the blessings of His great love, and for
this very reason we cannot fully realize the depths of ignorance and
misery from which we have been saved. Can we look upon Him whom
our sins have pierced and not be willing to drink with Him the bitter