Avoid Debt
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for God and His cause is not to be placed on a mercenary basis. The
workers in the publishing house have no more taxing labor, no greater
expense, no more weighty responsibilities, than have the workers in
other lines. Their labor is no more wearing than is that of the faithful
minister. On the contrary, ministers, as a rule, make greater sacrifices
than are made by the laborers in our institutions. Ministers go where
they are sent; they are minutemen, ready to move at any moment, to
meet any emergency. They are necessarily separated, to a great degree,
from their families. The workers in the publishing houses, as a rule,
have a permanent home and can live with their families. This is a
great saving of expense and should be considered in its bearing on the
relative compensation of laborers in the ministry and in the publishing
houses.
[209]
Those who labor wholeheartedly in the Lord’s vineyard, working to
the utmost of their ability, are not the ones to set the highest estimate on
their own services. Instead of swelling with pride and self-importance,
and measuring with exactness every hour’s work, they compare their
efforts with the Saviour’s work and account themselves unprofitable
servants.
Brethren, do not study how little you may do in order to reach the
very lowest standard; but arouse to grasp the fullness of Christ, that
you may do much for Him.
* * * * *
The Lord wants men who see the work in its greatness and who
understand the principles that have been interwoven with it from its
rise. He will not have a worldly order of things come in to fashion the
work in altogether different lines from those He has marked out for
His people. The work must bear the character of its Originator.
In the sacrifice of Christ for fallen men, mercy and truth have
met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other. When
these attributes are separated from the most wonderful and apparently
successful work, there is nothing to it.
God has not singled out a few men for His favor and left others
uncared for. He will not lift up one and cast down and oppress another.
All who are truly converted will manifest the same spirit. They will