The Joy of Christian Service by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 7, 1915

The Joy of Christian Service

By F. M. W.

THE whole church at work! There is inspiration in the contemplation of such activity. There is blessing and power to every one who will take part in such united action. This, indeed, is God's design for his children. He declares: “For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work.” Heaven has assigned some part of the work to every man. God designs that there shall be no idlers in his vineyard.

The call of heaven at this time and to this people, is to every member of the church to take an active part in garnering the harvest. The one who from selfish interest or from love of ease refuses, does so at his peril. God gave man in the beginning physical work as a panacea for human ills. Spiritual work for the Master will prove a panacea for spiritual ills.

If the entire membership of the church were engaged in active missionary labor, if each one were reaching out to see how he could help his brother or his neighbor or the stranger afar off, what a transformation it would work in many lives! The grumblers and the growlers would cease out of Israel. Murmuring and faultfinding and complaining would give place to prayer and praise and rejoicing. The dull routine of Christian experience would be quickened into living, pulsating activity. There would enter into many lives joy never known before, for there is no joy so great as the joy of devoted Christian service. The miser may rejoice in his hoarded wealth, the man of the world in his position and power, the woman of society in her social triumphs; but these are joys tarnished with envies and jealousies, and clouded with heartaches and regrets.

The joy of soul saving, of Christian service for God, knows no regret. If we can feel at the close of the day that we have encouraged some soul, that we have helped some one who is struggling toward the light, that we have been the means in the hands of God of creating in some heart truer and loftier ideals, that we have been enabled to lead some wanderer to Christ, to drink at the fountain of his love and forgiveness, oh, this is a satisfaction which eclipses all the joys which earth can bring! If we can retire to our rest at the close of a weary day with this reflection, our rest will indeed be sweet, and our dreams pleasant.

Such service may bring with it wearing labor, weariness, and even pain. It may be carried on with tears and with strong crying to God for help; but the joy of Christian service, working for One we love, working for the souls of lost men and lost women for whom God has given us a love, brings a joy and a satisfaction which crowns our tears with smiles, and makes of pain a pleasure.

How greatly we wish that some in our church who are hesitating and doubting in their experience, who stand in a critical attitude toward their brethren, who are led to criticize the plans and methods which others follow, while they attempt to do nothing themselves, who see more in technicalities and forms than they do in heartfelt service, could experience in their lives the joy of unselfish soul-saving work. How it would enlarge their sympathies and broaden their conceptions. It is for this experience that we must seek.

Every Seventh-day Adventist who goes through to the kingdom of God will be a soul saver. He may never see a foreign mission field, he may never have a license to preach, he may never even occupy a position in the church or Sabbath school. His field of operation may be in his own neighborhood and his own home; but in the place where God has put him, there he will represent Christ to his fellows. He will realize that he is a coworker with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let every one who reads these words ask himself, Am I a worker for God? In my place, wherever it may be, at home or abroad, in the busy city or in some rural district, am I to the extent of my ability and opportunities witnessing for Christ? May God help us to appreciate our great privilege in becoming coworkers with our Lord and Master.

F. M. W.