Self-Supporting Missionary Work by E. A. Sutherland

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Aug 17, 1911

Self-Supporting Missionary Work

By E. A. Sutherland

THE parable of the vineyard of Matthew 20 teaches a great lesson on this subject. In the parable we find that those who left the market-place, to enter the vineyard during the first hours of the day, went with the understanding that they should receive a definite wage. Those who did not receive a definite promise remained spiritually idle in the market-place. When the eleventh hour came, which represents the time just before the end, the Master found many of the church-members standing idle in the market-place. Their reason for remaining out of the vineyard was because no man had hired them for a definite wage. He urged them to enter the vineyard at once, and promised to give them whatever was right. It was necessary for the idle ones to exercise faith that if they went to work for the Master, he would give whatever was right.

We are living in the eleventh hour, and thousands of Seventh-day Adventists are to-day standing idle in the market-place because no regular support is promised them while engaged in the work. These spiritually idle ones need an increase of faith to believe that the Master of the vineyard will give them simple food and clothing if they enter his service. If our own people, with their years of experience in the things of God, are not able at this time to believe that God will provide for them if they give themselves to his service, can they hope that those to whom they present the truth will have faith to leave the world and put their trust in God's promises?

In the fourteenth chapter of Luke we find that a certain man made a great supper and bade many. Supper is the last meal of the day, and it represents the last work for souls. The invitation was given, “Come; for all things are now ready.” It was sent to those who professed that they were prepared and willing to enter the Lord's work when needed. We read that when the invitation was given, one man said, “I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.” The class represented by this person do not intend to refuse absolutely to enter God's work, but their property and affairs are in such shape that they do not see how they can immediately enter the vineyard without much sacrifice; they beg to be excused from complying at once. This man had been in the habit of making excuses, and did not realize that he had received the last invitation to enter the Lord's work.

Another one to whom the invitation was extended to enter active missionary work, said: “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to try them: I pray thee have me excused.” The master recognized that these people who had been standing before the world pretending to be willing to enter the work when they were needed, were unfitted to have any part in the latter rain. They were joined to their idols, their property, and their material affairs. Therefore he excused them all from having any part in his service. He sifted them out of his army.

We find that the invitation now went to those in the byways and hedges. Many of these humble ones had willing hearts. They were ready to sacrifice and to obey the call to enter the vineyard; they were also willing to trust that the one who had called them would give them what was right.

These parables teach that the Lord has something for each individual to do in his vineyard; that he will test our love for him by asking us to enter his work without promise of definite financial support from men. He wants each one to stand in his place and in his lot, and not feel that the work is too hard.

During the last few years I have had opportunity to visit with many of our lay members. I have found a large per cent of them standing in the market-place idle, and with one consent they are making excuses for not entering the vineyard. Many of these persons have gathered about them a large amount of means. The Lord has given them this wealth to use in advancing his work on the earth. Many of them should transfer their interests to needy places of the world and establish missionary enterprises of some kind, associating with them suitable workers, in order to enlighten the people who have not heard the message. Because of their inactivity in working for the salvation of souls, many of our people are dying spiritually.

The pioneers of the third angel's message have given us a wonderful example of sacrifice, but there are a large number of Seventh-day Adventists who know nothing of the sacrifices that were made by the pioneers. They have not been trained to work in this self-sacrificing manner. It is plain that those who finish this work must make a more complete sacrifice than ever has been made by any generation in the past. The Lord is testing the young men and the young women, and those who have more property than they need for a simple living, and those who are living in places where there is little opportunity to do missionary work. I would call the attention of those who are now standing idle in the market-place to the following instruction:—

“God desires that every man shall stand in his lot and in his place, and not feel as if the work is too hard.”

“Say not, ‘We can not afford to work in sparsely settled fields, and largely in a self-supporting way, when out in the world are great fields where we might reach multitudes.’”

“There are many families who would be a great blessing if they would take their belongings and settle in some of our towns or country locations where the standard has never been raised.”

“Let married men and women who know the truth go forth to the neglected fields to enlighten others. Follow the example of those who have done pioneer work in new fields.”

“Let Sabbath-keeping families move South, and live out the truth before those who know it not.”

To these humble workers this promise is given: “He marks all that they do to help those in need of help. In the heavenly courts, when the redeemed are gathered home, they will stand nearest to the Son of God.”

E. A. SUTHERLAND.