The Need of Educated Workers

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 6, 1908

The Need of Educated Workers

We live in an age of great intellectual light. The last fifty years have seen great changes in the matter of education. Where fifty years ago comparatively little was said about the question of education and the methods of educating children and youth, much is now said. To-day, in nearly all civilized lands parents are compelled by law to send their children to school a certain portion of each year. Where in this country there were but comparatively few institutions of higher learning, now there are strong universities in every State in the Union, so that a course in higher education is open to all the youth of this land at practically no cost for school expenses. As a consequence, we must present this message in such a manner as to appeal to keen, intelligent minds. To do this, we must have well-educated, thoroughly trained workers.

A man with a trained mind can always accomplish more in the work of the Lord than one with an undisciplined mind, giving to each the same measure of faith. The Lord looks with pleasure upon a man who values a strong, disciplined mind. This is witnessed by his approbation of the choice of Solomon in asking him for wisdom. He not only gave him his choice, but, because he made such a choice, he gave him wealth and honor.

Those who are inclined to undervalue a good education as a fitting — a necessary preparation — for successful gospel work, fail to learn the lesson taught by the most prominent Bible characters. Moses was a very learned man. After he was forty years of age, and considered himself fitted for his chosen work of delivering the people of God from their bondage, the Lord took forty more years in which to instruct him in his ways. The instruction which Daniel received made him ten times better than his fellows, and fitted him to stand at the head — next to the king — of the greatest kingdom which the world has ever seen. Isaiah, Ezekiel, and indeed all the prophets, give evidence of the possession of keen, trained minds.

Christ, the greatest of missionaries, when he was only twelve years of age had wisdom enough to confound the wise men of his time. Yet for eighteen long years thereafter he continued to grow in wisdom and in favor with God and man. He took thirty years in which to prepare for three and one-half years' work. The value of his preparation is shown by the marvelous teaching which he gave to his disciples, and to all. His disciples, under his instruction, acquired a most wonderful keenness and penetration of mind, which enabled them in turn powerfully to instruct the world.

The apostle Paul, though he had sat at the feet of Gamaliel, the wise Jewish teacher, took three more years in study to prepare himself properly to do his work for the Lord. The value of this preparation is shown by his wonderfully strong epistles, and by his marvelous management of the work of the Lord in all the earth. What was true of Paul was true of his fellow workers. They were all men whose intellectuality was such that, consecrated to God, they were enabled to present the truth in a most convincing manner.

Coming to the time of the great Reformation, God chose men whose learning was such as to enable them to present the truth of salvation by faith in such a clear, logical manner, and to defend their teachings by such forceful and able arguments, as to convince the minds, and, under the Holy Spirit, convert the hearts, of those who were honest. Luther, Melanchthon, Wycliffe, Zwingle, Jerome, Calvin, the Wesleys, and many others were all men of keen, trained minds. Many of these had been students in advanced schools of learning. The work of Carey, Mackay, Livingstone, the Judsons, and hosts of others, speaks, in the loudest words possible, of the importance of education and training in missionary work.

It ought not to be necessary for the need of educated workers to be urged upon our people. Through the spirit of prophecy the Lord has been calling for years for the establishment of schools, and for our young people to avail themselves of their benefits. Now, however, the work seems to be taking on a phase that calls in an unusually loud voice for educated workers. This message is now going into the heathen lands with an astonishing rapidity. The millions of China, of India, and of Africa must have it given to them. The languages and customs of these strange peoples must be mastered by those who go to these lands. Only trained minds can readily do this work.

From every point of view, then, there is need for this people thoroughly to educate their youth for God's service.

In civilized lands we meet with keen minds, whose attention can not be arrested except by a proper presentation of the truth. In heathen lands we not only have many keen and highly educated classes to meet, but we have strange and difficult languages to master. God calls for our best, and shall we render him less? Shall we be content with endeavoring to do the work of the harvest with dull sickles?—No, indeed. Let us rather unite to present to him each year as our schools close a large company of trained men and women for his service, for his service is the best of all labor.