Basic HTML Version
222
Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
made themselves unhappy over your case. All this is needless in
them. These very ones lack in many things, and if they are faithful
[245]
in the humble service the Master requires of them they will have all
that they can do. They cannot afford to waste their time in anxiously
fearing lest their neighbor, who has a larger work entrusted to him,
shall fail to do his work well. While they are so interested in the case
of another, their own work is neglected, and they are really slothful
servants. They were anxious to do their neighbor’s work instead of
that committed to themselves to do.
They think that if they only had the five talents to handle, they
could do much better than the one to whom these talents were
entrusted. But the Master knew better than they. None need mourn
that they cannot glorify God by talents He never gave them and for
which they are not responsible. They need not say: “If I were in
another’s position in life I would do a great amount of good with my
capital.” God requires no more of them than to improve upon what
they have, as stewards of His grace.
The one talent, the humblest service, if wholly consecrated, and
exercised to promote the glory of God, will be as acceptable as the
improvement of the weightiest talent. The varied trusts are propor-
tioned to our varied capabilities. To every man is given according
to his ability. None should slight his work, considering it so small
that he need not be particular to do it well. If he does this he trifles
with his moral responsibilities and despises the day of small things.
Heaven apportions to all their work, and it should be their ambition
to do this work well, according to their capabilities. God requires
that all, the weakest as well as the strongest, fulfill their appointed
work. The interest expected will be in proportion to the amount
entrusted.
Each should diligently and interestedly attend to his own work,
leaving others to their own Master, to stand or fall. There are too
many busybodies in-----, too many who are interested in watching
[246]
their brethren, and for this reason are constantly weak. They will
bear testimony in meeting, and because they have not Jesus in their
hearts to confess, they will try to impress upon their brethren their
duty. These poor souls do not know their own duty, and yet they
take the responsibility of enlightening others in regard to their duty.
If such would attend to their own work, and obtain the grace of God