Elements of Good Leadership
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daily, and thrown their souls unselfishly into the work, not depending
upon self, but upon the wisdom of God, they would have shown that
their works were wrought in God. Had they heeded the reproofs and
counsels given, when they did not meet the mind of the Spirit of God,
they would have been saved from sin.
A man who is honest before God will deal justly with his fellow
men, whether or not it is for his own personal interest to do so. The
outward acts are a fair transcript of the principles within. Many whom
God called to His work have been tested and proved; and there are
others whom He is now testing and proving.
After God had tested and proved us in the furnace of affliction,
he raised up my husband and gave him greater clearness of mind and
power of intellect to plan and execute than he had before his affliction.
When my husband felt his own weakness and moved in the fear of God,
then the Lord was his strength. Prompt in speech and action, he has
pushed forward reforms where they would otherwise have languished.
He has made very liberal donations, fearing that his means would
prove a snare to him.—
Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 244
.
Avoid Unreasonable Hours for Committees—Let those who at-
tend committee meetings remember that they are meeting with God,
who has given them their work. Let them come together with reverence
and consecration of heart. They meet to consider important matters
connected with the Lord’s cause. In every particular their actions are
to show that they are desirous of understanding His will in regard to
the plans to be laid for the advancement of His work. Let them not
waste a moment in unimportant conversation; for the Lord’s business
should be conducted in a businesslike, perfect way. If some member
of a committee is careless and irreverent, let him be reminded that he
is in the presence of a Witness by whom all actions are weighed.
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I have been instructed that committee meetings are not always
pleasing to God. Some have come to these meetings with a cold, hard,
critical, loveless spirit. Such may do great harm; for with them is
the presence of the evil one, that keeps them on the wrong side. Not
infrequently their unfeeling attitude toward measures under consid-
eration brings in perplexity, delaying decisions that should be made.
God’s servants, in need of rest of mind, and sleep, have been greatly
distressed and burdened over these matters. In the hope of reaching
a decision, they continue their meetings far into the night. But life