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Willing Service

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 17, 1902

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 79, No. 24.

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Willing Service

By A. R. SANDBORN

“Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.” 1 Chron. 29:13, 14. These words should be upon the lips, and should come from the heart, of every one of God’s people to-day; for the call has been made for material to build the house of God, not only these houses on earth, our colleges, but the greater house that is in building, in which is neither sound of hammer nor saw.
My dear brethren, are we responding with the willingness of David and his people? Can the decree soon come forth, “It is enough”? If so, then we shall be ready for any work God calls us to do, but we must remember that all we do must be willing service.
My brethren in the ministry, as we go to the people, asking them to join in the campaign for the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” do they see in us that joyful, willing service and life and energy that were in David? If this be so, then I believe that the same hearty response will be made. Our people will not get the idea that they are forced to do this, nor will they take the required number of books in order to get rid of the worker.
We are living in the testing time, not the test of how many books we can sell, but of how many we willingly sell. This test is far-reaching; for God is laying the foundation for greater and more severe trials of our faith. So, for our soul’s salvation, and the salvation of others, let us surrender ourselves willingly, but firmly, to the work of placing our beloved schools where God would have them, and thus stand this test. Then, with David, we can say, “I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.” 1 Chron. 29:17.
A. R. SANDBORN.