498
Counsels on Health
Use of Reading Matter
Those who come to our restaurants should be supplied with reading
matter. Their attention should be called to our literature on temperance
and dietetic reform, and leaflets treating on the lessons of Christ should
also be given them. The burden of supplying this reading matter should
be shared by all our people. All who come should be given something
to read. It may be that many will leave the tract unread, but some
among those in whose hands you place it may be searching for light.
They will read and study what you give them, and then pass it on to
others.
The workers in our restaurants should live in such close connection
with God that they will recognize the promptings of His Spirit to talk
personally about spiritual things to such and such a one who comes to
the restaurant. When self is crucified and Christ is formed within, the
hope of glory, we shall reveal in thought, word, and deed the reality of
our belief in the truth. The Lord will be with us, and through us the
Holy Spirit will work to reach those who are out of Christ.
The Lord has instructed me that this is the work to be done by
those conducting our restaurants. The pressure and rush of business
must not lead to a neglect of the work of soul saving. It is well to
minister to the physical wants of our fellow men, but if ways are not
found to let the light of the gospel shine forth to those who come day
by day for their meals, how is God glorified by our work?
When the restaurant work was started, it was expected that it would
be the means of reaching many with the message of present truth. Has
[483]
it done this? To the workers in our restaurants the question was asked
by One in authority: “To how many have you spoken regarding their
salvation? How many have heard from your lips earnest appeals to
accept Christ as a personal Saviour? How many have been led by your
words to turn from sin to the service of the living God?”
As in our restaurants people are supplied with temporal food, let
not the workers forget that they themselves and those whom they serve
need to be constantly supplied with the bread of heaven. Let them
watch constantly for opportunities to speak of the truth to those who
know it not.