The Offering for Missions, June 30
By George Ide Butler
THE writer has just read the earnest appeal for missions in the REVIEW of May 31, and wishes to heartily endorse the same, and if possible, add something to it. The call of the president of the General Conference is certainly worthy of the consideration of all our people. Today the foreign mission work is among the most encouraging and interesting features of the great work in which we are engaged. For certain reasons not necessary to mention here, influences have been at work in this cause to dampen the energies of our people; there has not been that union, and harmony, and brotherly love, and sublime faith in the success of the work that there has been at other times in the past. But we expect to see a glorious rallying to the truth, the furtherance of missions, and the furtherance of the work in our own lands as never before since the work commenced. We shall be greatly disappointed if we do not see this, and we do most earnestly desire that our people everywhere shall see that we have reached the most interesting point in our work, the most encouraging in many ways. Among these encouraging things, and perhaps above all others, is the progress the work has been making in foreign lands. It has seemed to surpass the increase in our own country. The way seems opening before us most remarkably. What a pity it would be if here, where the work commenced, and where the great body of believers reside, any influences to check and hold back this rapid progress should be seen because of lack of helping in the support of missions. This hindrance already has been startling, and exceedingly unpleasant to contemplate, when our missionaries sometimes have been barely able to live, and when many have offered themselves to go, but there was no means with which to send them. How can we as a people, located in the United States, where we have so many blessings and privileges, and there is such a large amount of means at the command of our people, feel that this is the proper thing? We ought to place in the hands of the leading brethren who have the management of missions especially under their watchcare, sufficient funds to send every able-bodied man or woman out into the broad harvest-field, who is willing to go, and gives evidence of being fit to go. There is nothing that can be more certain than this, and if our people do not do this, they are standing in the way of the work of God. When we look around us at the calamities that are occurring, and see hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of property going up in smoke, and the efforts of a lifetime come to naught by the judgments of God which are in the land, how can we feel safe and secure in living mainly to amass money here, when such important opportunities for doing a vast amount of good are clearly open to view? The world is to be warned. Never did things look so hopeful, so far as the coming of our Lord is concerned, nor the progress of our missions and work in foreign lands present such evidences of success. Our men and women of wealth are being tested as to their faithfulness to the cause and work of God. God has given them means. It is through his blessing that they have obtained means. What a terrible mistake it is when we use our means merely for personal gratification, and to lay up treasures on earth, where moth and rust corrupt, and thieves break through and steal, while the judgments of God are in the land, and these things are increasing all the time. Our Saviour, speaking to us as a people in the last days, says these words: ‘Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.’ But how are we to obtain it? ‘Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning, and ye yourselves like unto men who wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you; that he shall gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.’ These words are certainly addressed to the last generation, looking and waiting for the Lord to come, believers in the soon coming of Jesus. We are warned especially of our duty to so use our means that we shall have it laid up ‘in bags that wax not old,’ a treasure in the heavens. An immense company will be brought out into this truth by the efforts of the children of God who thus realize their stewardship. We are to make ourselves friends with the riches God has entrusted to our hands, that we may be already received into everlasting habitations.6Unless we are thus faithful with the unrighteous mammon, we shall never have committed to our trust the true riches. The cause of missions is crying loudly for help at this important juncture. Our people in this country ought to be doing ten times more than they are doing. We have every reason to believe that the brethren in charge of these means have been trying to use it to the very best advantage, and already thousands have received the truth as the result of our work in different parts of the world; but there are a great many more who need it just as badly. There never was a more favorable opportunity. Things will wax worse and worse. The world is now open for us to press the truth into every dark corner, and let the people know that God has light in the world to benefit them, and that he will save such as will give their hearts to him. Heathen lands that have been shut up for centuries are crying for help. Our missionaries have more encouraging success than those of any other people, though they are young, and are inexperienced in such matters, for God has made the present truth as taught in the Scriptures most plain, and with it they can reach multitudes that can not be reached by any other people. Men of learning, in various parts of the earth, are coming into the truth and using their learning to help advance the cause in these dark fields of heathenism. Catholic countries are being entered; old Russia is opening its gates; everything is encouraging us as a people to work, really work, just at this special juncture. May the Lord help our people to realize this, and make an effort to fill the treasury of our Mission Board this present year. Plan immediately, dear brethren and sisters, to give a large donation Sabbath, June 30. Go prepared to do this, and expect that the Lord will bless you, and that you will see souls in the kingdom of God as a reward for your interest.