Is It Right to Report Missionary Work, and Are Such Reports of Any Use?
By E. M. Graham
WHEN asked to report the missionary work they do, many of our people say they think it is not right to report it. This is a mistaken idea, and is not in harmony with the Bible nor the Testimonies. Much of the Bible consists of reports of work. The very first chapter of the first book is God’s report of his work of creation. Here we have our first example of missionary work, given for the encouragement and enlightenment of human beings. Christ was the Father’s agent in creation. We are told, “Ye should follow his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21. Here, then, in the very beginning of God’s letter to his children, is an example for us to follow. Moses recorded his life work in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Daniel gave a report of his life work in the book of Daniel. Ezra and Nehemiah reported their work. The book of Acts is very largely made up of reports, as its name indicates. If all these reports were removed from the Bible, we should sustain an irreparable loss. We have several records of Paul’s reports of his work. See Acts 14:27; 15:4, 12; 21:19. When he returned from a tour, he gave to the church that sent him, a report of what God had used him to do. Some may say that these reports in the Bible are right because the Lord directed the writing of them by his Holy Spirit. This is true, and it is equally true that the Lord has, through the messenger he has selected in these last days, directed us to relate our experiences week by week. “Let church members, during the week, act their part faithfully, and on the Sabbath relate their experience. The meeting will then be as meat in due season, bringing to all present new life and fresh vigor.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VII, page 19. “Let all have a part to act. Train the young to do what is appointed them, and from week to week let them bring their reports to the missionary meeting, telling what they have experienced, and through the grace of Christ what success has been theirs. If such reports were brought in by consecrated workers, the missionary meetings would not be dull and tedious. They would be full of interest, and there would be no lack in attendance.”—Id., Vol. VI, page 436. “Let those who gain such an experience in working for the Lord write an19account of it for our papers, that others may be encouraged. . . . These reports should find a place in our papers, for they are far-reaching in their influence. They will be as sweet fragrance in the church, a savor of life unto life. Thus it is seen that God works with those who co-operate with him.”—Id., page 336. These instructions are definite, and show very plainly that the Lord desires his people to report the work they do, both orally in their churches, and in writing, that such reports may appear in the papers. How, then, must the Lord regard the refusals of his people to report? Some base their refusal to report on the text which says that we should not let our left hand know what our right hand does. We are not, however, left in doubt in regard to just what application this text has; for through the spirit of prophecy there is given this commentary on it: “With many, the left hand does not know what the right hand does, for the right hand does nothing worthy of the notice of the left hand. This lesson of Jesus to his disciples was to rebuke those who wished to receive glory of men. . . . I was shown that this scripture does not apply to those who have the cause of God at heart, and use their means humbly to advance it.”—Id., Vol. I, page 193. “When thou doest alms,” he said, “let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” “In these words Jesus did not teach that acts of kindness should always be kept secret. Paul the apostle, writing by the Holy Spirit, did not conceal the generous self-sacrifice of the Macedonian Christians, but told of the grace that Christ had wrought in them, and thus others were imbued with the same spirit. He also wrote to the church at Corinth, and said, ‘Your zeal hath stirred up very many.’” “Christ’s own words make his meaning plain,—that in acts of charity the aim should not be to secure praise and honor20from men. Real godliness never prompts an effort at display. Those who desire words of praise and flattery, and feed upon them as a sweet morsel, are Christians in name only. “By their good works, Christ’s followers are to bring glory, not to themselves, but to him through whose grace and power they have wrought. It is through the Holy Spirit that every good work is accomplished, and the Spirit is given to glorify, not the receiver, but the Giver.”—“Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing,” pages 120, 121. Here we are shown that the time when acts of missionary work should not be reported is when individuals have a desire to glorify themselves by relating them. Reports given in a spirit of self-exaltation are not acceptable to God, but the reports of those who love him and give him the glory for all they have done, come up as a sweet savor before him. The result of such reports will be that when persons hear them, they will glorify the Lord, as the hearers did when Paul related his experiences. See Acts 21:20. There are others among our people who think it is all right to report, but who also think it is a very unimportant matter, and that it is not necessary for them to do so. But is anything unimportant about which the Lord has given definite instructions? Is it safe to disregard even the seemingly small things he tells us to do? “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things.” Matt. 25:23. “Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord negligently.” Jer. 48:10, margin. In the few quotations from the Testimonies we find some reasons why reporting is helpful. Reports make meetings interesting, they bring up the attendance, give to all present new life and fresh vigor, and are far-reaching in their influence, and above all, they glorify God. Besides the blessing these reports bring to the churches, they convey much useful information to the conference officers. We are in the days of the finishing of this message. Much of the responsibility of finishing the work is laid on the church members, and the duty of setting them to work is laid on the ministers and conference laborers. How are these workers to know what progress they are making in enlisting the church members in service if the members do not report? Without reports they are in the dark as to where they most need to direct their efforts. Brethren and sisters, are not these reasons sufficient to cause you to be willing to work for the Lord and to report what you do to give his message? If every Sabbath keeper would obtain a Morning Watch Calendar, and form the habit of noting down daily the acts performed for the Lord, the filling out of the weekly report blank would be a small matter. Will you not all do this, and glorify the Lord, who has done so much for you, by reporting the work that he has done through you?