High Spiritual Standards for God’s Workmen
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the work the very best talent that can be obtained. If they are growing
men, possessing sanctified intelligence; if they listen to the voice of
God and seek to catch every ray of light from heaven, they will, like
the sun, pursue an undeviating course, and they will grow in wisdom
and in favor with God.
The publishing department is an important branch of God’s work,
and all connected with it should feel that it is ordained of God and
that all heaven is interested in it. Especially should those who have
a voice in the management of the work have breadth of mind and
sanctified judgment. They should not waste their Lord’s money by
thoughtlessness or lack of business tact; neither should they make
the mistake of limiting the work by the adoption of narrow plans and
trusting the work to men of small ability.
It has been repeatedly represented to me that all our institutions
should be managed by men who are spiritually minded and who will
not weave their own defective ideas and plans into their management.
This work should not be left to men who will mingle the sacred with
the common and who will regard the work of God as being upon about
the same level as earthly things, to be managed in about the same
common way in which they have been in the habit of managing their
own temporal affairs. Until those can be connected with our institutions
who have breadth of mind and who can lay plans in harmony with
the growth of the work and its exalted character, the tendency will
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be to narrow down everything that is undertaken, and God will be
dishonored.—
Testimonies for the Church 5:549, 550
.
Breadth of Character Essential—Wisdom is needed in the selec-
tion of managers in the various departments. It is impossible for one
to control others until he learns to control himself. The superintendent
should be a man who loves and fears God. He should sacredly guard
his reputation, giving no occasion for anyone to reproach the cause
of God. He should not be narrow-minded, a man of one idea. One
who is changeable, now indulgent, then cold and unapproachable, or
critical, exacting, and domineering, is not fitted for this position, nor
is he who will cherish suspicion, jealousy, passion, or stubbornness.
These traits are not pleasing to God, and will not be manifested by
any who take Jesus for their pattern and counselor. The superintendent
must manifest the spirit of Christ; yet he should be firm to restrain
evil. A neglect of this duty shows him to be unfit for his position. God