THE SPIRIT OF SACRIFICE.
By James White
“Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for naught? Neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for naught. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.” Mal. i, 10. The text expresses, in plainest terms, God’s displeasure at selfishness in those connected with his work, and is applicable to any age, or people, or department of his work, where it may exist. The great plan for the salvation of lost man was founded upon a sacrifice of infinite value. No greater sacrifice could be made than the gift of the Son of God for our sins. And God designed that all who should be connected with his cause, should labor with the spirit of sacrifice. The plan was carried out in a good degree by patriarchs and prophets. And we see all Israel, on certain occasions, bringing their free-will offerings unto the Lord. The apostles left all to follow Jesus. Their sacrifices were very great. Says Paul, “I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts xx, 33–35. The apostle sacrificed from choice, that he might save his brethren. To the church at Corinth he said, “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you.” 2 Cor. xii, 15. And thus they toiled, and suffered losses, and sacrificed, in their Master’s cause. Most of them sealed their testimony with their blood, and they all rest in hope of a glorious recompense at the resurrection of the just. Fifty millions of martyrs have since chosen to sacrifice life in their adherence to the cause of Jesus Christ. The reformers suffered and sacrificed. In fact, wherever there has existed a living church, in which there has been the spirit of truth and living holiness, there were seen men and women who have loved to sacrifice in the cause of Jesus Christ. Men and women are now wanted who, from choice, can sacrifice time and means for the advancement of the cause of the Redeemer. Men and women are wanted who are as ready to wear out in the cause of God, as most men and women are in order to obtain the things of this life. The cause of our divine Lord languishes for want of such men and women. We want such a ministry. Those men who stand between the living and the dead must be qualified for their responsible position by the spirit of consecration, that they may, by the help of God, diffuse the same spirit throughout the entire membership. Our institutions, so dear to us, such as the Publishing179Association, and the Health Institute, suffer for want of men and women who will sacrifice their time and their means, and will employ their precious strength, for Christ’s sake, for the benefit of suffering humanity, and for the sake of precious souls. Selfish persons should not touch the work of God. And until they are converted, and in them dwells the spirit of sacrifice, they will be almost sure to mar the work. In this case God is dishonored, and his cause bleeds. Separated from the special work of God, the condition of the selfish is bad enough; but when connected with it, the case of such persons is fearful. We plead for the cause. Let the work of God be in the hands of its true friends. The man or woman who will not from choice sacrifice time, means, and strength, in the work of God, should have nothing to do with it. Those who feel that they should have as much money for their labors in connection with the cause of God, as they can obtain for labor in the service of the world, should not be suffered to handle the work of God. The cause of Christ in all its departments calls for sacrifice. Has the spirit of sacrifice met the approbation of God in all past time? Much more will he approve of it in those who profess to believe the present to be the period of the last merciful message to sinners. Time is short. Seventh-day Adventists have a vast work to do, and but a brief period of time in which to labor. Brethren and sisters, in the language of the text we would inquire, ‘Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for naught?’ Where are the men and women among us who will labor in the work of God for naught, or for part pay in this world, and trust in God for the balance in the world to come? We do not now inquire for that class of men and women who are below par in mental and physical strength, and for want of moral and mental culture, would make only second-class hands anywhere. No; the cause of our soon-coming Redeemer calls for number-one laborers. Men and women are wanted to labor in the several departments of the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association, who are physically, mentally, and morally, constituted to become efficient laborers, and in whose hearts is the real spirit of sacrifice. Again we quote the sacred inquiry, ‘Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for naught?’ Men and women of good qualifications are also wanted at our Health Institute, in whose hearts is a desire to labor for suffering humanity and for Christ. These institutions must ever be, in part, charitable institutions. And in order that they should accomplish the work God designed they should, they must be nourished by all friends, who are able to sacrifice, and they should be robbed and weakened by none. We have called upon those who hold the Lord’s money to furnish it in establishing these institutions. Now we call on young men and young women, of the right stamp, to make a corresponding sacrifice in labor. These institutions, so pure and benevolent in their character, must not be burdened with the indolent, the stingy, and the selfish. They have no need of those who are anxious for high wages, and for an easy task. Yet there have both men and women filled responsible places in these institutions who were a living curse to them. Some have been selfish, caring more for their own interests than for the prosperity of the institutions with which they were connected. Others have loved their ease, and have been paid for labor which they never performed. And some others have lacked ability to properly act the important part assigned them. And all have lacked the spirit of sacrifice which the work, and the time in which we live, demand. Some have the idea that persons who are so short of physical or mental strength, or both, that they cannot well act a part in the busy world anywhere else, can do well at the Publishing Department, or at the Health Institute. Such persons generally expect full pay, when their labor is worth about half price. We call for number-one laborers, who can, from choice, work for part pay in this life, and joyfully expect the balance in the next. We must see self-sacrificing, care-taking men and women at these institutions, whose hearts and interest shall be in the work. ‘Neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for naught.’ That spirit that leads men and women to ask a price for everything they do for the Lord is displeasing in his sight. He freely gave his Son for us. He has sent holy angels to keep and to instruct. He has sent down his Spirit to comfort and to teach. And he has in reserve the inestimable gift of eternal life for all who will obey and believe. For those who hope to be saved by grace, to ask pay for every errand they do for their gracious Lord, is a sin of no small magnitude. ‘I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts. Neither will I accept an offering at your hand.’ In these words God expresses his displeasure, and even indignation, at the course of those stingy, selfish, ease-loving ones, who must have pay for everything they do in his cause. This spirit will creep into the ministry, unless great care is taken. Every department of the work must be guarded, lest this sin, so displeasing to God, shall call down his frown, and the precious work of God be marred and hindered in its progress. Systematic Benevolence, established and carried out by our people, secures a good support to all our acting preachers. Treasuries have been well filled, and money has been paid out to our preachers with a liberal hand. Young preachers, with small families, if any, have received more than their wants have demanded, and several among us, who entered the ministry from five to ten years since, find themselves in possession of property, probably more than if they had been engaged in any other business. Some of our ministers have money at interest, and this very money fell into their hands because of the over-liberal pay they received for their services. The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association is paying ten per cent interest on several thousands. These ministers, as well as others of our brethren, who have money at interest, are invited to let the Association have the use of a few hundred each, without interest. Almost everything connected with the Association needs revolutionizing. When we appealed to our people to give of their means to constitute a publishing capital, our appeal was on the ground that the Association would be able to furnish publications cheap, and give thousands of dollars’ worth annually. But for the want of a spirit of sacrifice, and because of a spirit of selfishness, the Association has only been able to hold its own without giving publications to the amount of a dollar a year. The wages have kept climbing up, for a few years past, and there were so many leaks in the business, for want of attention and proper care, that there was nothing left from a paying business to show for the use of thirty-two thousand capital. Those who have cheerfully donated this sum to establish a publishing interest, have right to expect an increase annually of the property equal to ten per cent, which would constitute the handsome sum of three thousand two hundred dollars, or that the Association should give, for circulation, that value in books. But during the past year, the Association gave no books, and added nothing to the value of the property. Is it not high time to call for young men and women of good physical and mental strength, good habits, and sanctified hearts, who will love to sacrifice for the good of the Association, and for the cause generally? We are in earnest in this matter. Changes have been made. More will be made when practicable. We feel assured that the Lord is with us. The spiritual atmosphere is improved, and the work is moving cheerfully and to advantage. We close by saying that we shall be glad to hear from those who feel an interest in this article.