p. 188 | What Can I Do?

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 14, 1865

What Can I Do?

Whn you look, dear brother, dear sister, over the wide harvest field, and consider for one moment, as no doubt you often do, the great gathering work to be accomplished through the instrumentality of God's people, and that even now, the field is "white already to harvest," does not the foregoing question irresistibly intrude itself upon your mind and conscience? God grant that it may. The question is truly a pertinent one at the present time. Now is the time for individual action on the part of every one that claims an interest in the cause of present truth. And it should be remembered, that, "he that reapeth, receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal."

As a people, I think it may be safely said, that we have been too much in the habit of shifting upon others, responsibilities that belong to us individually. Whilst we have been looking and longing for a time of refreshing among us, and flattering ourselves that the third angel's message was just about to be sounded with a "strong voice," and go forth to the world with unwonted power, we have been content to suppose that the Lord would bring all about in his own good time, and way, and that we need have no special concern in the matter. We are very willing to commit the great work in question into the hands of our ministers, but are not as ready as we ought to be, to second their labors with our own. True, we sympathize with them in their trials and afflictions, and give of our substance to sustain them; but this is not enough. The time has fully come for action, self-denial, and cross-bearing, on the part of every true child of God.

Let us, dear brethren, be taught by the lesson that God now permits to be given us. See how the cause of God seems to languish at the present time. See how little, apparently, is being done toward the accomplishment of the great work before us. See how the faithful laborers, including even those whom God has placed at the head of the work, are being withdrawn from the field, in consequence of impaired health, and lingering disease. And the labors of others, for other causes, have ceased to be effectual toward the advancement of the great work.

Now who knows, but that God, by way of chastisement, is suffering all this, that his people may the more earnestly and prayerfully consider the relation that they sustain to the cause, individually, and thus happily find out what they can do in its behalf.

I have said what I have, by way of introduction to the question, What can I do? Now, dear brother, dear sister, (I speak to you individually,) whilst there is very much that you can do toward forwarding the work in which we are engaged, I propose to name barely one thing, which I believe you can easily do, and which I verily believe you ought to do, and which, having been done, a very great work will have been accomplished in the advancement of God's cause.

You will agree with me, that the Advent Review and Sabbath Herald is an efficient messenger, capable of doing an untold amount of good, if only permitted to have access to the people. And now, if ever, during the suspension of so much ministerial labor, is the accepted time for this silent messenger to be on the wing.

Note now what I have to say: The subscription list to Review, between this and New Year's day, may be, and ought to be, doubled. What say you? Do you ask how this may be done? I have only to say; you that have only the "one talent," (and none have less,) set yourself to work in earnest, to interest some one of your friends or neighbors to become a subscriber for the same. Do you say, that would be a work of self-denial and cross-bearing, and would therefore be excused? Remember, that it is the very kind of work you need to do, and that which God requires at your hands. And you that have the "two talents," see to it, that you get two subscribers. And you that are blessed with the "five talents," be sure that you get five subscribers. Thus even more than I named would be accomplished; and how easily it could be done! And thus in the aggregate, my dear brethren and sisters, a great and important work would be performed by you in the Lord's harvest.

Now whilst there is much more that you can and ought to do,—with reference to which I may speak hereafter—may we not reasonably expect that you will severally accomplish the trifling amount of labor, yet vast amount of good, that I have named?

Till New-Year's morn, Expectant I remain.

J. M. A.