Care for Workers
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of duty, not for his own narrow, selfish interests, but that the influence
of each may be a strength to all. If we really believed that we were
individually a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men, would
we not as a church manifest a very different spirit from that which we
now manifest? Would we not be a living, working church?
The small and the larger streams of beneficence should ever be
kept flowing. God’s providence is far ahead of us, moving onward
much faster than our liberalities. The way for the advancement and
upbuilding of the cause of God is blocked by selfishness, pride, cov-
etousness, extravagance, and love of display. The whole church is
charged with a solemn responsibility to lift in every branch of the work.
If its members follow Christ, they will deny the inclination for display,
the love of dress, the love of elegant houses and costly furniture. There
must be far greater humility, a much greater distinction from the world,
among Seventh-day Adventists, else God will not accept us, whatever
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our position or the character of the work in which we are engaged.
Economy and self-denial will furnish many in moderate circumstances
with means for benevolence. It is the duty of all to learn of Christ, to
walk humbly in the self-denying path in which the Majesty of heaven
trod. The whole Christian life should be one of self-denial, that, when
calls for help are made, we may be ready to respond.
As long as Satan works with unremitting energy to destroy souls,
as long as there is a call for laborers in any part of the wide harvest
field, so long will there be a call to give for the support of the work
of God in some one of its many lines. We relieve one need only to
make way to relieve another of like character. The self-denial required
to obtain means to invest in that which God values most highly will
develop habits and a character which will win for us the approbation,
“Well done,” and make us fit to dwell forever in the presence of Him
who for our sake became poor, that we through His poverty might
inherit eternal riches.
* * * * *
Men in positions of responsibility are in danger of becoming
crushed under the many burdens that they bear, but the Lord does
not press on anyone burdens too heavy to be borne. He estimates every
weight before He allows it to rest upon the hearts of those who are