Basic HTML Version
304
Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
will have to bear the test of the judgment. They work too much in
their own strength. They do not make God their trust, and therefore
errors and imperfections mark all their efforts. They do not give the
Lord an opportunity to do anything for them. They do not walk by
faith, but by sight. They will go no faster or further than they can
see. They do not seem to understand that venturing something for
the truth’s sake has any part in their religious experience.
Some go from their homes to labor in the gospel field, but do
not act as though the truths which they speak were a reality to them.
Their actions show that they have not experienced the saving power
of the truth themselves. When out of the desk, they appear to have
no burden of the truth. They labor sometimes apparently to profit,
but more frequently to no profit. Such feel as much entitled to the
wages they receive as though they had earned them; notwithstanding
their unconsecration has cost more labor, anxiety, and pain of heart
to those laborers who have the burden of the work upon them than
[340]
all their efforts have done good. Such are not profitable workmen.
But they will have to bear this responsibility themselves.
It is often the case that ministers are inclined to visit almost
entirely among the churches, devoting their time and strength where
their labor will do no good. Frequently the churches are in advance
of the ministers who labor among them, and would be in a more
prosperous condition if those ministers would keep out of their way
and give them an opportunity to work. The effort of such ministers to
build up the churches only tears them down. The theory of the truth
is presented over and over again, but it is not accompanied by the
vitalizing power of God. They manifest a listless indifference; the
spirit is contagious, and the churches lose their interest and burden
for the salvation of others. Thus by their preaching and example the
ministers lull the people to carnal security. If they would leave the
churches, go out into new fields, and labor to raise up churches, they
would understand their ability and what it costs to bring souls out
to take their position upon the truth. And they would then realize
how careful they should be that their example and influence might
never discourage or weaken those whom it had required so much
hard, prayerful labor to convert to the truth. “Let every man prove
his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and
not in another.”