HOW SHALL THEY HEAR WITHOUT A PREACHER?
By W. H. Thurston
The work to be done now is to give “the Advent message to the world in this generation,” but “how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be sent?” And how shall they be sent? Who will answer? and who will go? Who will do all that the Lord has privileged them to do in supporting those who go? Think of it, brethren and sisters, fifty-seven years have passed since the cleansing of the sanctuary, or the investigative judgment, began, and there are still many countries waiting for us to bring them the message of salvation. Shall we rise up as a body and declare “there shall be delay no longer”? “The Lord created every tree in Eden pleasant to the eyes and good for food, and He bade Adam and Eve freely enjoy His bounties. But He made one exception: of the tree of knowledge of good and evil they were not to eat. This tree God reserved as a constant reminder of His ownership of all. Thus He gave them opportunity to demonstrate their faith and trust in Him by their perfect obedience to His requirements. “So it is with God’s claims upon us. He places His treasures in the hands of men, but requires that one tenth shall be faithfully laid aside for His work. He requires this portion to be placed in His treasury. It is to be rendered to Him as His own; it is sacred, and is to be used for sacred purposes,—for the support of those who carry the message of salvation to all parts of the world. He reserves this portion, that means may ever be flowing into His treasure-house,633and that the light of truth may be carried to those who are nigh and to those who are afar off. By faithfully obeying this requirement, we acknowledge that all belongs to God.” These are timely words, and should be carefully heeded by all. A colporteur goes into the field to sell books. He understands that fifty per cent of all the money received belongs to the tract society, and that it is to be set apart, and forwarded to the society at certain times. He works on for a few weeks, makes his delivery, but sends in no money. He states, however, in his report that he has been to considerable expense, lost some orders, and cannot make a payment now. You say at once that is not right; he had no right to use the society’s money; and if he will not be honest, we cannot continue him in the work. True he had no right to appropriate the society’s money to his own use, for it did not belong to him; but he had as much right to use the society’s money as we have to use the tithe, the Lord’s money. It is not a question of not understanding the tithing system and our duty and privilege in the matter, but we have become “slothful” in the Lord’s business, careless and indifferent in many things. We know what the Bible teaches in regard to the promulgation and support of the gospel, and we know there is a blessing promised to those who comply with the requirements. The Lord says, “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” Why not do them, brethren, and enjoy the blessing? It may be a surprise to some to know that the tithe for the whole denomination last year amounted to only $6.75 per capita. The Lord has blessed the efforts which have been made for the advancement of the message, but how much more might have been done; yes, we might have been singing the song of Moses and the Lamb to-day had we as a people done faithful work for God. But we must not waste time in lamenting over the past; we must arouse and earnestly engage in the work. People, and even nations, are waiting for us to bring them the message. “This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” Let the love of Jesus Christ for souls stir our hearts, and then all the tithe will come into the storehouse.