Education for Missionary Work
[
First published in “Historical Sketches of S. D. A. Foreign
Missions,” 1886.
]
“We are laborers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye
are God’s building.” [
1 Corinthians 3:9
]
The work of the Christian laborer is not light or unimportant. He
has a high vocation, from which his whole future life must take its
mould and coloring. He who gives himself to so sacred a work should
bend all his energies to its accomplishment. He should aim high; he
will never reach a higher standard than that which he seeks to attain. He
cannot diffuse light until he has first received it. He must be a learner
before he can have sufficient wisdom and experience to become a
teacher, able to open the Scriptures to those who are in darkness. If
God has called men to be laborers together with Him, it is equally
certain that He has called them to make the best possible preparation
rightly to represent the sacred, elevating truths of His word.
Those who desire to give themselves to the work of God should
receive an education and training for this work, that they may be
prepared to engage in it intelligently. They should not feel that they
can step at once upon the higher rounds of the ladder; those who would
succeed must begin at the first round, and climb upward step by step.
Opportunities and privileges are granted for them for improvement,
and they should make every effort in their power to learn how to do
the work of God acceptably.
[74]
Wherever our ministers labor, in Europe or in America, they should
seek to arouse the youth to prepare for active service in God’s great
field of battle. All who claim to be the servants of Christ have a work to
do for Him. The very name of servant conveys the idea of hire, work,
responsibility. To every one God has entrusted powers to be employed
in His service. He has given to each his work, and He requires that
every faculty shall be improved to His glory.
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