The Responsibility Resting Upon Those at the Base of Supplies
R. A. UNDERWOOD
“My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:19.
PROVISION has been made according to the riches of Christ’s glory to supply men and means to bring the last message of salvation within the reach of every human soul. Through the riches of grace men are called to be colaborers together with God (2 Cor. 6:1) in the salvation of a lost race, that in the world to come they “may be also glorified together.” Rom. 8:17.
Heaven’s greatest joy and glory is, and ever will be, in the redemption of a lost world. The surpassing love of Jesus Christ is revealed to an adoring universe by God’s uniting the services of an undone race with the sinless Christ and angels in man’s restoration, and in giving the redeemed a share in Christ’s joy and glory. Matt. 25:21. As the sacrifice of Christ precedes his great glory, so the labor and sacrifice of man must precede his joy and glory with Christ. The apostle Paul, speaking of his labor for the Thessalonian church, says: “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.” 1 Thess. 2:19, 20. If man shares with Christ in his glory, he must accept the responsibility commensurate with the sacred trust and reward. “For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: if we suffer, we shall also reign with him.” 2 Tim. 2:11, 12. The sacrifice and glory are inseparable. “Who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord?”
A Victorious Army
The work of Christ is likened to a mighty army, marshaled under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Men must enlist to stand in Christ’s stead, to suffer and labor while beseeching men to be reconciled to God. 2 Cor. 5:20.
Supplies and Recruits
To occupy the position of furnishing the supplies to an army is fully as important as to be in the line of battle at the front, and sometimes more so; for if the supplies fail, the army is helpless and sure of defeat. Recruits are constantly needed to take the places of the fallen, and to make new additions to the army of conquest.
Soldiers of the cross must be given supplies as verily as any army that ever went to battle. God’s call is especially to the young and middle aged to go to the front. “Princes of Israel” are needed who have learned it is not by worldly power and might, but by the might of the Spirit of God, that victory is gained in this fight against sin. 1 Kings 20:13, 14. We are led to ask, Must nearly all the pioneers in this cause be laid to rest before the glad day of the coming of our King? The larger number of those who enlisted under the banner of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus in the early history of this cause have fallen at their post, while others bear the battle scars of more than half a century in the conflict.
“Soldiers of the cross, arise!
Lo! your Leader from the skies
Waves before you glory’s prize—
Prize of victory.
Seize your armor, gird it on;
Soon the battle will be won;
See! the strife is almost done;
Struggle manfully.”
Beings from unfallen worlds would gladly respond to the call of God if permitted to do so; but no, the purpose and call of God is for our sons and daughters to go and join those already on the field of battle. Our homes, churches, schools, sanitariums, and publishing houses must be the base of supplies to send forth these workers. But shall we send the flower of our young people into the fiercest of the conflict, and withhold from them the necessary food and other support? To do so would be to invite defeat, suffering, and death to the laborers, while it would mean everlasting shame and dishonor to those entrusted with the sacred responsibility of sending supplies to the brave workers in the field.
The demands upon this movement to supply laborers, and the sinews of war to sustain them, are great. In addition to the demands upon each local conference to keep the work going, the needs in the regions beyond are constantly pressed upon us with an irresistible power to “enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes.” Isa. 54:2. There can be no surrender, no cessation of effort, until the inhabited earth has heard Christ’s last call to men.
It is a surprise to many in other denominations to know that with a constituency, in all the world, of only about one hundred thousand believers, Seventh-day Adventists are operating missions in so many countries. The worldwide progress of our work is an inspiring commentary upon the movement24and message of Rev. 14:9-12, which a small people have been entrusted to carry to all the world in this generation. Our Mission Board sends word: “The reports just in indicate that outside the United States we have 2,464 missionaries. [A good proportion of these draw their support from Europe, Australia, and the colonies.] This number includes native workers on our payrolls, but does not include the large army of self-supporting workers with literature, native and foreign.” It is further stated: “During 1911 the average daily receipts of the Mission Board amounted to $1,172.22. For the first five months of 1912 the daily average receipts for missions at the treasury were $1,380.11. This shows a gain for the first five months of this year of $207.87 a day over last year.” We are glad of this, but when we think that hundreds of workers are dependent upon this means for their support, we can not charge any with being in this work for the loaves and fishes. We certainly should do no less than contribute for missions on the average fifteen cents a week for each Sabbath-keeper, and many ought to do much more. Large demands are often urged upon the Mission Board, which it is unable to meet.
The Early Days
In the early days of this message great sacrifices were made, both by conferences and by individual believers. As soon as a conference had gained a little strength, it reached out to the adjoining State or Territory, and divided its small means and few laborers to build up another conference. In this way the believers in the State of New York assisted Pennsylvania; Ohio helped West Virginia; Michigan, Indiana; Iowa, Nebraska; Minnesota, the Dakotas, etc., until the cause had planted its banner in every State and Territory of the United States. In the same spirit the General Conference sent laborers to Europe, Australia, and other countries. We have rejoiced to see the message obtaining sufficient strength in Europe, Australia, and other lands to cause them to follow the example of the conferences in America, in reaching out to plant the truth in adjoining territories; thus these countries become a source of supply for men and means to extend the work into unoccupied regions.
Our responsibility does not lessen, but rather increases, as the message grows and extends to all parts of the world. The call to push forward the work to completion comes back to the home lands from the millions of China, India, Africa, and all parts of the world. This week of prayer should be the beginning of a new experience in bringing into active service many more laborers, and tapping larger resources of means that God has entrusted to his people to advance the work of carrying the gospel to the dying multitudes who are without hope.
Individual Responsibility
We may shrink from personal responsibility, and feel that it is the duty of the conferences to furnish the necessary laborers and means to meet the growing demands of the cause; but equally with these organizations the responsibility rests upon every minister, every church officer, and every church-member. No one can say, “I am excused,” unless he is ready to be excused from sharing in the joy and glory of Jesus Christ when the conflict is ended. The surest sign of the approaching end is seen in the marked fulfilment of Christ’s great prophecy: “And these good tidings of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole inhabited earth for a testimony unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matt. 24:14, A. R. V. Nineteen hundred twelve should not close without witnessing the greatest personal consecration of service and means to the cause of Christ to send the message and the messenger into all parts of the world that the church has seen since the days of Pentecost.
FOREIGN WORKERS ATTENDING CAMP-MEETING IN KOREA
The Lord’s Appeal
In the closing days of the night of sin, the Lord appeals to his stewards:—
“Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee. Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; redeeming the time [“buying up the opportunity,” margin], because the days are evil.” Eph. 5:14-16, A. R. V.
What a gracious provision, that we may redeem misspent years and reclaim opportunities that have passed unimproved! How may this be done? Many have devoted their best days and energies to the accumulation of this world’s goods to the neglect of improving golden opportunities to win souls to Christ. Now life and its opportunities are seen from a different viewpoint: many would gladly give themselves for a foreign field, but age or other conditions will not permit them to go. However, here is a young person qualified and ready to go into a distant land, but the Mission Board has not the funds to meet the expense. We may call a meeting and sing,—
“My Father is rich in houses and lands,
He holdeth the wealth of the world in his hands!”
to no avail, unless some trusted steward into whose hands the Lord has committed his goods shall place them upon the altar of service. And he who cooperates in furnishing the means to send the laborer forth will share in the reward as souls are won to Christ.
This principle is clearly set forth in 1 Sam. 30:24, 25: “As his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike. And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.” Now the call is for those who do not go to the battle’s front to furnish the “stuff,” or the “sinews of war;” thus through the merciful provision of God a man is given an opportunity of converting years of his former life, when he accumulated the means, into devoted service for Christ. By using accumulated means we may redeem the time and buy back the lost opportunities, so that the records in heaven may be changed to show that a portion of our former life is credited with soul-winning in a foreign field. What a merciful arrangement is this that makes it possible, even in old age, for a man to devote to the cause of Christ his accumulations which represent the strength of his early life. This reveals the amazing love of the great God to a poor sinful race, and will be a cause of adoration and eternal joy to both redeemed and Redeemer ages without end.
The Call of the Hour
The trumpet-call of the hour is, “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem,” and go forth as a burning torch, proclaiming the message of Christ, until the earth is lighted with the glory of God, and the consummation of the blessed hope is realized.
