The Broad Range of Christian Service

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 2, 1916

The Broad Range of Christian Service

WHAT is comprehended in the term missionary work? How broad is the range of service for Christ and for our fellows? How fully may we consider ourselves laborers together with God? In the minds of many the term missionary work has a very restricted meaning. It is regarded as applying only to preaching sermons, the giving away of tracts, the visiting of the sick, etc. We believe, however, that it may be made to cover a much larger field in connection with life's activities. This will depend of course upon the motive of service, and the spirit in which such service is performed.

The editor of the United Presbyterian summarizes some of the activities which may be considered as true missionary work. Supplying the needs of humanity; giving a cup of cold water to a thirsty traveler, or a loaf of bread to one who is hungry; calling on one who is ill; kneeling in prayer by the bedside of pain; telling to those in darkness the story of salvation that is in Christ Jesus; rendering temporal assistance to a sick neighbor; ministering to the sufferers on the field of battle; lending a good book; giving flowers to the sick; assisting a poor boy or girl in obtaining an education; going to a heathen land as a missionary, or assisting some one else to go; living for Christ in the home, on the farm, in the workshop, and on the street,—such deeds, and many others that might be enumerated, if done in the love of Christ and from worthy motives, are missionary work, and make the one who does them a laborer together with God.

Let us remember that whoever we are or wherever we live, or whatever may be our business, God desires us to labor for our fellows. And we may be assured that if we will prove ourselves missionaries where we are, even though in most humble surroundings, we shall be prepared in due time for broader responsibilities and for occupying a larger field of usefulness. There are too many in the world at the present time who are longing for opportunities to do missionary work, shutting their eyes the while to the abundance of opportunities which the providence of God brings to them every day.

The mother in her home can find no broader, nobler field for missionary endeavor than training for God the children which have been committed to her care. The brother with unconverted neighbors surely has a field around him inviting his most earnest attention. We do not need to pray for opportunities; we need to pray for the heavenly anointing, that we may see the openings which exist on every side. And then, seeing the openings, we need to pray for wisdom and divine grace, that we may do our part in performing the work which God brings to us.