Work to Be Done

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 13, 1913

Lesson for the Children—No. 6

Work to Be Done

MEMORY TEXT: “Be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts.” Haggai 2: 4.

Children love to hear father or mother say, “Now you may go and play,” or “I think you had better rest,” and they love to be told they can go and visit places where they enjoy going; but when mother says, “Now it is time to work,” then there are cross faces, whining tones, and we often hear, “Why must I do this?”

God is a worker. Jesus said, “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” So we find they have set us an example. When we have hard things to do, let us remember how Jesus worked, and that will help us. When he was tired at one time, he said, “My meat [food] is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” He would rather work for his Father than eat his dinner. When we learn to work as he did, it will not be so hard.

There is much work to be done for the Lord now, and the children can help. There are books and papers to sell, tracts to lend and give away, visits to make, and many other things to do. “The night cometh, when no man can work.” When darkness comes, our work ends. When probation ends and no more can be saved, night truly comes to this world. God would have us work for everybody now as long as we can. He does not want us to be lazy Christians. You know a wheelbarrow does not move unless it is pushed, and Jesus wants willing workers.

When he was on earth, the children were his helpers. At one time he told some men that if the children stopped praising him, the stones would cry out.

Children may help finish the last work on earth. They can work here and in other countries. Many people must be told how to get ready to meet the Lord, and that he is coming soon. Everywhere, the old people, and the children, too, must hear this last message to sinners.

(Show a piece of coral.) Every little insect has its work. This piece of coral was made by some so small they can scarcely be seen; but millions of these tiny folk worked together and built great reefs and islands, some hundreds of miles long, which the raging waves cannot break down. One of these little insects could do nothing alone, but when all work together great things are accomplished.

So it will be in the Lord’s work now, when so many countries are to be warned. If all will work together, soon the words will be spoken, “It is finished.”

There was once a king who was visited by a friend who wondered that he had no high walls to defend his cities. The king told his friend he would show him his walls, and, leading him to where his army was, he pointed to his soldiers and said, “There are the walls of Sparta, ten thousand men, and every man a brick.” In the Lord’s army he wants each of us to be a brave soldier, filling our place like the bricks in a wall.

Let us pray that God will make us willing and able to work for him.