p. 9 | Christ’s Ambassadors by R. A. Underwood

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Mar 16, 1905

Christ’s Ambassadors

By R. A. Underwood

R. A. UNDERWOOD

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” 2 Cor. 5: 20.

Christ’s commission is: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matt. 28: 18-20.

“Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.” “The laborer is worthy of his hire.” Luke 10: 3, 7.

“Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” 1 Tim. 4: 15, 16.

These scriptures show that the work of the gospel minister demands his whole time and energies to be given to preaching, teaching, and laboring for souls.

An ambassador is a minister of first rank employed by a government to represent it and manage its interests at the court, or seat, of some foreign power. Such minister, or ambassador, looks to the appointing power that sent him, for his support. We should not therefore expect Christ to set apart men to preach the gospel, and leave them and their families to the mercy and charities of a cold, indifferent world. No; Christ could not do this; but in harmony with every principle of right dealing, he must provide for the support of the laborers whom he sends forth into the great harvest-field.

Is it possible that this perfect Being has never provided a system by which his own servants should have their reasonable wants supplied, but be left to the tender mercies of others upon whom God has laid no burden of duty? This class of servants devote their lives to God’s cause, renounce the honors of wealth and the world, leave home and every association dear to mankind—and all for the Lord’s sake.

Touching upon this principle, the apostle Paul, in 1 Cor. 9: 7-10, says: “Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written.” These questions answer themselves. Who ever heard of a nation’s sending an army to fight an enemy, and not providing for its wants? Is Christ less righteous than a wicked, cruel nation?—O, no! He provides that the laboring ox shall be generously cared for. Then will he not see that his faithful ministers are supported?

Some have thought that they paid the ministers when they paid their tithe. In this they are greatly mistaken; for Christ commissions and sends forth his laborers. He also pays them through his own agents from the tithes and offerings devoted to that purpose by himself. Notice the language: “And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.” “Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave-offering of it for the Lord, even a tenth part of the tithe.” Num. 18: 21, 26. “And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one

to his field. Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.” Neh. 13: 10-12.

So we see that Christ has wisely reserved of all the income received by man—from the cultivation of the soil, from the fruit of the trees, from the minerals of the earth, from the flocks and herds, from the resource of man’s physical and mental powers, and from all sources whatsoever—one tenth, as an ever-living acknowledgment (1) that Christ is the rightful owner of this world by virtue of the infinite price he paid for man on Calvary; (2) that Christ is man’s personal redeemer, and proprietor of all the goods entrusted to his care; (3) that, though man failed to respect God’s right of property in Eden, through the mercy of God man is given a second trial, and through the gospel of Jesus Christ he may enter his lost paradise again, tried and purified; (4) that Christ’s chosen ambassadors are to be supported by the tithe thus set apart by Christ as “holy unto the Lord;” and by thus co-operating with God, man becomes a colaborer with Jesus Christ in the redemption of a lost world.

Who shall not say, “Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel”? “Amen!”