The Reason Why by E. W. Farnsworth

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 30, 1911

“The Reason Why”

By E. W. Farnsworth

As a young man of no experience was planning to enter the canvassing work, a friend who doubted his ability to succeed, asked him what he would do if he met with failure instead of success. His reply was significant, and at the same time prophetic of the standard he afterward attained, “I would try to find out the reason why.”

This method may apply to the work of the ministry as well as to selling books. Some ministers seem to have but little success in their labors. They produce little or no fruit. They preach, pray, and sing, they come and they go. They draw their support regularly from the Lord’s treasury, but they make no returns. They bring back little or nothing.

Surely this can not be according to the mind of God. The parable of the barren fig-tree teaches the truth that he expects his trees to bear fruit. “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.” The history of the early gospel ministry abounds with records of churches established, of multiplied conversions, of a growing, vigorous, untiring campaign in which “believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.”

We are sent out under the same commission as they were. We have the same faithful God. We have the same everlasting gospel, with the added importance that the near coming of Christ and verified prophecy impart. We have the promise of the Holy Spirit as our mighty helper and teacher. We have fulfilling signs which bear continual testimony to the fact that the message we bear is the truth. We have the light of centuries focused in the few years intervening between the present moment and the final end. May we not, then, look for greater results attending our ministry than have ever been possible in any previous age?

Thank God, there is a power attending this message which is seen in no other religious movement. But it is not enough that the work prospers as a whole. What is God accomplishing through me? What fruit am I bearing for him now? How many souls have I brought to him this year? Is my ministry accomplishing what it should? Is my inner secret life such as he can bless? Am I diligent in watching for souls as one that must give account? Have I the power to prevail with God and men that it is my privilege to have? Do I pray as often and as fervently as I should? How much time do I spend each day in Bible study? Am I feeding the flock with “meat in due season,” with “clean provender, which hath been winnowed”? Does my deportment among the people correspond with that of the Master, so that I am acting as his representative in all that I do?

If a man of good sense in worldly business finds that he is losing instead of gaining, he carefully goes over his accounts, and studies the relation of each with reference to loss and gain. He begins to practise economy in details. He seeks advice from able counselors. He determines to succeed, and spares no effort to gain success. Surely in all that pertains to the King’s business we should not be less persistent and painstaking than men are in worldly things.

There was a time when the disciples failed in their work. While trying to cast out a devil, they experienced defeat instead of victory. Then they did a very sensible thing,—they sought a quiet interview with the Master alone. They determined to know why they had not succeeded. They knew they had had success before. They had rejoiced because the devils were subject to them, and had cast out many of them. They anticipated no difficulty on this occasion. Jesus had given them authority over demons and diseases. Why failure?

The Saviour at once answered the question, “Why could not we cast it

out?” by saying, “Because of your little faith.” “This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” On this occasion they had no courage to meet the evil spirit, and the devil knew it. They had no faith in the power of Christ, and the demon knew that. They had neglected to watch and pray. The devil knew all about that. They had been reasoning which should be the greatest. They felt injured because they had not been selected as members of the “transfiguration committee,” and the devil knew that in their condition of mind he had nothing to fear.

Surely it would be sensible for us when we fail in power, in attaining results, to do as the disciples did,—go away alone with Jesus and ask him why. It may be lack of faith; it may be neglect of prayer; it may be a neglected Bible; it may be unholy ambition and jealousy; but whatever the cause, let us search it out, that victory may come to the work of God, and that he may be glorified. Our success depends on what we are in his sight.

E. W. FARNSWORTH.