Why the Work Is Not Finished by E. M. GRAHAM

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 18, 1913

Why the Work Is Not Finished

By E. M. GRAHAM

In “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IX, page 117, we find this statement: “The work of God in this earth can never be finished until the men and women comprising our church-membership rally to the work, and unite their efforts with those of ministers and church officers.”

When we stop to consider this, it is so strong a statement that it almost startles us. It lays a large share of the responsibility of finishing the work on the lay members, and puts the responsibility for delaying its finishing upon them.

A large number of our people in all parts of the world are working faithfully and continually to give the message to all they can reach, and through their efforts an immense amount of seed has been sown. But some are not doing their part, evidently, or the Lord would not have spoken as he has.

We all long to see the work finished, that we may meet our blessed Saviour, that we may be forever free from sin, that we may be reunited to loved ones torn from us by death. We may, by a united effort, bring this about, for the Lord says: “If every church-member were a living missionary, the gospel would speedily be proclaimed in all countries, to all peoples, nations, and tongues.”—Id., page 32.

How can we do this? “This is the way light is to be communicated,—by private, personal effort.”—“An Appeal for Home Missionary Work.”

Church officers may do much to bring about this closing of the work. They can plan together to get every member of their churches to do some personal missionary work every week. To do this they will need to become personally acquainted with every member, so as to suggest suitable work for each individual. Some can work best with our tracts, others with papers, or magazines, others with books. Some prefer to sell, others to lend, others to give away literature. Some have a gift for missionary visiting and Christian Help work, some have a talent for giving Bible readings, some work best in missionary correspondence. It is the duty of the church officers to see that each one finds suitable work. The youth and children should not be forgotten, for all can do something; and nothing will hold the youth and children to the cause of God like working for it will do.

Our people are, in almost all cases, willing to work, but not all know how to set themselves to work. This is why the Lord asks the question, “Will those who have charge of the flock of God awaken to their duty?”—Id. This is their duty, “Those who have the spiritual oversight of the church should devise ways and means by which an opportunity may be given to every member of the church to act some part in God’s work.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IX, page 116.

In view of all these messages from the Lord, shall we not plan for a general revival of home missionary work in every church? Will not the church officers everywhere meet together and plan to set their members to work, that the work of God may speedily be finished?

E. M. GRAHAM.