Plans for Work by E. M. GRAHAM

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 9, 1915

Plans for Work

By E. M. GRAHAM

“When the love of Christ is enshrined in the heart, like sweet fragrance it cannot be hidden. Its holy influence will be felt by all with whom we come in contact. The spirit of Christ in the heart is like a spring in the desert, flowing to refresh all, and making those who are ready to perish, eager to drink of the water of life.

“Love to Jesus will be manifested in a desire to work as he worked, for the blessing and uplifting of humanity. It will lead to love, tenderness, and sympathy toward all the creatures of our Heavenly Father’s care. The Saviour’s life on earth was not a life of ease and devotion to himself, but he toiled with persistent, earnest, untiring effort for the salvation of lost mankind.

“So those who are the partakers of the grace of Christ will be ready to make any sacrifice, that others for whom he died may share the heavenly gift. They will do all they can to make the world better for their stay in it. This spirit is the sure outgrowth of a soul truly converted. No sooner does one come to Christ than there is born in his heart a desire to make known to others what a precious friend he has found in Jesus; the saving and sanctifying truth cannot be shut up in his heart. If we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ, and are filled with the joy of his indwelling Spirit, we shall not be able to hold our peace. If we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, we shall have something to tell. Like Philip when he found the Saviour, we shall invite others into his presence. We shall seek to present to them the attractions of Christ, and

the unseen realities of the world to come. There will be an intensity of desire to follow in the path that Jesus trod. There will be an earnest longing that those around us may behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

“And the effort to bless others will react in blessings upon ourselves. This was the purpose of God in giving us a part to act in the plan of redemption. He has granted men the privilege of becoming partakers of the divine nature, and, in their turn, of diffusing blessings to their fellow men. This is the highest honor, the greatest joy, that it is possible for God to bestow upon men. Those who thus become participants in labors of love are brought nearest to their Creator.

“God might have committed the message of the gospel, and all the work of loving ministry, to the heavenly angels. He might have employed other means for accomplishing his purpose. But in his infinite love he chose to make us co-workers with himself, with Christ and the angels, that we might share the blessing, the joy, the spiritual uplifting, which results from this unselfish ministry.”—Steps to Christ, pages 82-84.

“If there is one work more important than another, it is that of getting our publications before the public, thus leading them to search the Scriptures.”—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. IV, page 390.

“If our papers, tracts, and books, expressing the truth in plain Bible language, could be widely circulated, many would find they are just what they want.”—Id., page 392.

There is only one way in which we can demonstrate our love for Jesus, our Saviour, and that is by loving service to our fellow men. It is true that our love will flow out in prayer and praise and in spiritual communion with our Lord through his Word, and these things are essential to our spiritual life. But the real demonstration of our love will be in

actions of loving service. Loving is doing. It is not an inactive sentiment. We cannot perform acts of loving service directly for Jesus, to whom our hearts go out in adoration and gratitude, but he has said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Matt. 25:40.

We can do no greater service to our fellow men than to give them a knowledge of this truth, for in it there is salvation and eternal light. Our business is to live it and to make it known to others.

There are many ways in which this may be done. One is through the circulation of literature, and we are told that if there is one work more important than another, it is this. Therefore if we take up this line of work, we know we are engaging in a work that is fully equal in value to any in this cause in saving souls. Results have proved this to be true.

Tract-Lending Plan

One plan which has been very fruitful in results is that of lending tracts from door to door, until a series, covering the main points of truth, has been lent. Tracts for this purpose can be obtained, already classified and placed in envelopes. A package containing twenty-five complete sets would cost a church $5. This is an economical method of working, for you can lend No. 1 package the first week to one house, next week take No. 2 there, and leave No. 1 at the next house, until with one package of tracts you have worked twenty-five houses.

As you visit the houses with these tracts week by week, you will have opportunities to talk with the people and to do personal work with them. There are many hungry hearts all about us, waiting for some one to invite them to the Saviour. This kind of systematic work opens the way to find such as these.

Present Truth Series

An excellent series of papers is being issued, called the Present Truth Series. Each paper takes up one phase of the message. If every house could be visited with one of each of the twenty-five papers of this series, no one would be left unwarned. Of course, all would not receive them, but all would have been given the opportunity to do so. These papers cost 50 cents a hundred or $4 a thousand.

Division of Territory

In order to insure that the territory is systematically visited, it would be an excellent thing if each member would become responsible for a certain portion of it, according to the circumstances of the members, for some can take more, some less. The territory should be divided into small blocks, and arrangements made for the members to take one or more of these, as they think they can work them. It is advisable not to attempt too much at first, for thorough, painstaking work is the most effective. Unless some systematic plan of this kind is followed, some portions of the territory will perhaps be visited by several workers, while others will receive no attention.

Reading Racks

One excellent plan for circulating literature is by placing it in reading racks in rooms where people have to wait, for

some reason or other. Few persons like to sit still and do nothing. If they see something that they can take to read, they will in most cases do this. How many persons have been brought into the truth through these reading racks eternity alone will reveal, but it will certainly be a substantial number. It has also been found that it is a very rare thing for reading matter placed in these racks to be wasted or destroyed.

Each rack should be supplied by two members at a time, two taking one month, another two the next, and so on, thus dividing the burden. All the magazines are suitable for this work, also the weekly Signs, Youth’s Instructor, Little Friend, Present Truth Series, and tracts.

Careful Use of Literature

“As the disciples, by Christ’s direction, gathered up the fragments, that nothing might be lost, so we should treasure every fragment of literature containing the truth for this time.”—Words of Encouragement to Workers, page 3.

All our literature is valuable, and therefore every paper and tract that comes into our hands that is suitable for the public should be put to some use, after we have read it. We often find in Seventh-day Adventist homes piles of papers and tracts that should be going out to carry light and truth to others. Let us make use of everything we can.

While we desire to see our literature circulated as widely as possible, care should be taken that it is not wasted. The following instruction, given by Elder James White, in the early days of the message, is just as applicable now: “We do not ask men and women to circulate tracts as they would scatter corn to the chickens. Our publications should be handed out judiciously, where they are needed and wanted. Those who feel it a duty to sow this kind of seed broadcast, can sow all they please at their own expense.”

It is generally understood that the tracts supplied by the church for the use of members are intended to be used to give to those who have manifested some interest in the truth, or who have asked questions on some specific subject. They may be used to hand to individuals with whom the members have talked on some subject. It is not expected that members will take large quantities of tracts paid for by the church and place them on street-car seats in numbers, or lay them around promiscuously in other places. Those who have a burden to circulate tracts in this way, should purchase them themselves. Tracts left at times on street-car seats, the seats of railroad trains, and in other public places, have been used by the Lord to save souls, so this may be done to a reasonable extent. But the plan of interesting the individuals, and then handing the tracts to them, is a more profitable one. No literature should be used without being accompanied by prayers that the Lord will bless it to some soul’s good.

“By giving the gospel to the world it is in our power to hasten our Lord’s return. We are not only to look for but to hasten the coming of the day of God. Had the church of Christ done her appointed work as the Lord ordained, the whole world would before this have been warned, and the Lord Jesus would have come to our earth in power and great glory.”—The Desire of Ages, pages 633, 634. E. M. GRAHAM.