Call to Greater Earnestness
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for the sake of worldly advantage, for the sake of acquiring knowledge
of the sciences, will venture into pestilential regions, and will go into
countries where they think they can obtain commercial advantage; but
where are the men and women who will change their location, and
move their families into regions that are in need of the light of the
truth, in order that their example may tell upon those who shall see in
them the representatives of Christ?
The Macedonian cry is coming from every quarter of the world,
and men are saying, “Come over, ... and help us,” and why is there not
a decided response? Thousands ought to be constrained by the Spirit
of Christ to follow the example of Him who has given His life for the
life of the world. Why decline to make decided, self-denying efforts,
in order to instruct those who know not the truth for this time? The
Chief Missionary came to our world, and He has gone before us to
show us the way in which we should work. No one can mark out a
precise line for those who would be witnesses for Christ.
Those who have means are doubly responsible; for this means has
been entrusted to them of God, and they are to feel their accountability
to forward the work of God in its various branches. The fact that
the truth binds souls by its golden links to the throne of God, should
inspire men to work with all their God-given energy, to trade upon
their Lord’s goods in regions beyond, disseminating the knowledge of
Christ far hence among the Gentiles.
Many to whom God has entrusted means with which to bless
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humanity, have let it prove a snare to them, instead of letting it prove a
blessing to themselves and others. Can it be that the property that God
has given to you shall be permitted to become a stumbling block? Will
you let His entrusted means, which has been given you to trade upon,
bind you away from the work of God? Will you allow the trust which
God has reposed in you as His faithful steward, serve to lessen your
influence and usefulness, by keeping you from being laborers together
with God? Will you permit yourself to be detained at home, in order
to hold together the means which God has entrusted to you to put into
the bank of heaven? You cannot plead that there is nothing to do; for
there is everything to do. Will you be content to enjoy the comforts of
your home, and not try to tell perishing souls how they may obtain the
mansions Christ has gone to prepare for those who love Him? Will