Our Individual Responsibility
193
and the more we impart, the more we shall receive. Thus we may be
constantly believing, trusting, receiving, and imparting.
The work of building up the kingdom of Christ will go forward,
though to all appearance it moves slowly and impossibilities seem to
testify against advance. The work is of God, and He will furnish means
and will send helpers, true, earnest disciples, whose hands also will
be filled with food for the starving multitude. God is not unmindful
of those who labor in love to give the word of life to perishing souls,
who in their turn reach forth their hands for food for other hungry
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souls.—
The Desire of Ages, 369, 370
.
Burden Not to Be Shifted to Organizations—In our work for
God there is danger of relying too largely upon what man with his
talents and ability can do. Thus we lose sight of the one Master Worker.
Too often the worker for Christ fails to realize his personal respon-
sibility. He is in danger of shifting his burden upon organizations,
instead of relying upon Him who is the source of all strength. It is
a great mistake to trust in human wisdom or numbers in the work of
God. Successful work for Christ depends not so much on numbers
or talent as upon pureness of purpose, the true simplicity of earnest,
dependent faith. Personal responsibilities must be borne, personal
duties must be taken up, personal efforts must be made for those who
do not know Christ. In the place of shifting your responsibility upon
someone whom you think more richly endowed than you are, work
according to your ability.—
The Desire of Ages, 370
.
God Will Provide the Means—The means in our possession may
not seem to be sufficient for the work; but if we will move forward in
faith, believing in the all-sufficient power of God, abundant resources
will open before us. If the work be of God, He Himself will provide the
means for its accomplishment. He will reward honest, simple reliance
upon Him. The little that is wisely and economically used in the
service of the Lord of heaven will increase in the very act of imparting.
In the hand of Christ the small supply of food remained undiminished
until the famished multitude were satisfied. If we go to the Source of
all strength, with our hands of faith outstretched to receive, we shall be
sustained in our work, even under the most forbidding circumstances,
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and shall be enabled to give to others the bread of life.—
The Desire of
Ages, 369, 371
.