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Vital Principles of Relationship
397
“To no man has been appointed the work of being a ruler over
his fellowmen. Every man is to bear his own burden. He may speak
words of encouragement, faith, and hope to his fellow workers; he
may help them to bear their special burdens by suggesting to them
improved methods of labor; but in no case is he to discourage and
enfeeble them, lest the enemy shall obtain an advantage over their
minds—an advantage that in time would react upon himself.
“By the cords of tender love and sympathy the Lord linked all
men to Himself. Of us He says, Ye ‘are laborers together with God:
ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.’ This relationship
we should recognize. If we are bound up with Christ, we shall
constantly manifest Christlike sympathy and forbearance toward
those who are striving with all their God-given ability to bear their
burdens, even as we endeavor to bear our appointed burdens.
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“In our several callings there is to be a mutual dependence on
one another for assistance. A spirit of authority is not to be exercised,
even by the president of a conference; for position does not change a
man into a creature that cannot err. Every laborer entrusted with the
management of a conference is to work as Christ worked, wearing
His yoke and learning of Him His meekness and lowliness. A
conference president’s spirit and demeanor in word and in deed
reveal whether he realizes his weakness and places his dependence
on God, or whether he thinks that his position of influence has given
him superior wisdom. If he loves and fears God, if he realizes the
value of souls, if he appreciates every jot of the help that the Lord
has qualified a brother worker to render, he will be able to bind heart
to heart by the love that Christ revealed during His ministry. He will
speak words of comfort to the sick and the sorrowing.
“If he does not cultivate a masterly manner, but bears in mind
always that One is his Master, even Christ, he can counsel the
inexperienced, encouraging them to be God’s helping hand.
“The feeble hands are not to be deterred from doing something
for the Master. Those whose knees are weak are not to be caused to
stumble. God desires us to encourage those whose hands are weak,
to grasp more firmly the hand of Christ, and to work hopefully.
Every hand should be outstretched to help the hand that is doing
something for the Master. The time may come when the hands that
have upheld the feeble hands of another may, in turn, be upheld by