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Christian Service
done to open the eyes of these sinners in Zion, and make hypocrites
tremble?—
The General Conference Bulletin, 1893, 132
.
There is a class that are represented by Meroz. The missionary
spirit has never taken hold of their souls. The calls of foreign missions
have not stirred them to action. What account will those render to
God, who are doing nothing in His cause,—nothing to win souls to
Christ? Such will receive the denunciation, “Thou wicked and slothful
servant.”—
Historical Sketches, 290
.
As an illustration of the failure on your part to come up to the work
of God, as was your privilege, I was referred to these words: “Curse
ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants
thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of
the Lord against the mighty.”—
Testimonies for the Church 2:247
.
A Self-complacent Class
There was presented before me a class who are conscious that they
possess generous impulses, devotional feelings, and a love of doing
good; yet at the same time they are doing nothing. They possess a
self-complacent feeling, flattering themselves that if they had an oppor-
tunity, or were circumstanced more favorably, they could and would
do a great and good work; but they are waiting the opportunity. They
despise the narrow mind of the poor niggard who grudges the small
pittance to the needy. They see that he lives for self, that he will not be
called from himself to do good to others, to bless them with the talents
of influence and of means which have been committed to him to use,
not to abuse, nor to permit to rust, or lie buried in the earth. Those who
give themselves up to their stinginess and selfishness, are accountable
for their niggardly acts, and are responsible for the talents they abuse.
But more responsible are those who have generous impulses, and
are naturally quick to discern spiritual things, if they remain inactive,
waiting an opportunity they suppose has not come, yet contrasting
their readiness to do with the willingness of the niggard, and reflecting
[37]
that their condition is more favorable than that of their mean-souled
neighbors. Such deceive themselves. The mere possession of qualities
which are not used, only increases their responsibility; and if they
keep their Master’s talents unimproved, or hoarded, their condition is
no better than that of their neighbors for whom their souls feel such