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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Nov 7, 1907

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 84, No. 45.

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More Workers

By WM. COVERT

WM. COVERT
Since the message we are giving is for the whole world to hear and consider in this generation, it behooves us to quicken our pace in the work. The situation that confronts us demands that we make greater haste. As we are actually to give these wonderful things to this sin-polluted world during the short time which remains for us to work, we must arouse every latent energy, and put into the harness every unused force, in order to accomplish the work within the allotted time.
We may flatter ourselves that much has been accomplished, but this is done only when we measure ourselves among ourselves, and compare ourselves by ourselves. The facts are that ten times more could be done than we are now doing, if our churches were fully organized for work, and fully aroused to the importance of the whole situation.
Think what was done by the church of Christ after the day of Pentecost was fully come. Think of the thousands who were converted in a day, and of the numbers that were added day by day, when the whole church worked for souls and were filled with the Holy Spirit.
What was done then will be done again, but not without an awakening on the part of the people, and careful planning on the part of the leaders who direct the work.
When the master of the vineyard asked some unemployed men at the eleventh hour why they had been standing in the market-place idle all day, they quickly responded by saying, “Because no man hath hired us.” Matt. 20: 6, 7. They had been standing all the day idle because no one had offered them the kind of work they could do. They had been watching for employment all the day, but not an offer of work was made by a man of business until the eleventh hour.
Does not this parable of the vineyard and its need of more workers illustrate the conditions that have marked the history of the message in its progressive working? Early in its history one class of laborers—preachers—was called into the vineyard, and for a time bore the burden of the work. Then were added medical workers, and after them Bible workers and canvassers. Then came a great demand for teachers and for foreign missionaries; and so at each advancing stage, the numbers employed in the vineyard have been greatly increased, because a greater variety of talent could be utilized.
The publishing interest has served the cause in all its stages, and it has been compelled to take on greater proportions every time a new interest, a new department, or another language has been added, or another nation has been included in the rapidly advancing work.
But the most careful and most prayerful management has all the time been necessary in order to have supplies sufficient to meet the demand. And, too, as facilities have multiplied and new departments have been added, the extent of our operations has widened, and the demands made upon us have greatly increased. Therefore, at each hour as the day advances, we find individuals ready to go into the Lord’s vineyard to labor; and what is now of vital interest is to have wise leaders connected with the various departments, who have such clear understanding of the times and persons that they will know how to give those in the market their proper place in the vineyard. Besides the regular lines of labor referred to in what has been said, there are the home missionary and colporteur work that have as yet scarcely been touched with the tips of our fingers. And the possibilities for accomplishing good in these things almost equal that which is being done in all other lines. Certainly the number of our members who are not at work in the cause greatly exceeds the number employed in all the departments of the work. It is the latent ability of all this unemployed host that is needed at the eleventh hour to finish the work in the Lord’s vineyard before the day closes. Let the faithful and wise servants who now give out the work and guide in the cause, place the idle ones who are standing in the market, at some proper post of duty in the vineyard. This is being done in some of the European fields more than we are doing it in America, and the result is that these fields double their numbers of believers in half the time that it requires us to double our numbers here. The per capita circulation of their periodicals there is more than ten times as much as ours in America. Is not the result attained because a far greater per cent of the church-membership have taken up this work than do so here?
The plan outlined by our Saviour was to give “to every man his work.” The method announced by him is to be in operation when he returns. “And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” It is not enough for the ministers alone to watch, for all are commanded to watch. And watching and working are inseparably joined in one character.
Our whole people must be aroused; all must pray, all must labor, all must have some definite plans to follow in bringing the third angel’s message to a finished condition. The time to save souls is rapidly drawing to a close, and what is done must be accomplished soon.
Chicago, Ill.