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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 4, 1871

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 37, No. 16.

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HELPERS

By Dudley Marvin Canright

BY ELDER D. M. CANRIGHT.
TEXT: “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”—1 Cor. 12:28.
Our text brings to view the different gifts which God has placed in the church. God saw that it was necessary that there should be more than one or two kinds of gifts in the church. Every man has some talent, some ability, some place that he can fill well; but all have not the same. If we go into a large machine shop, where there are many hands at work, we shall find that each man has his especial part of the work to perform. One takes one part of the work, and another another part, according to their taste and ability. Thus all parts move on together.
So it is in the church of Christ. It is the great workshop in which there are many things to be done. It needs men of very diverse talents and gifts to fill all the places in the church. Hence Paul names several gifts which should be in the church. In verse 4, he says, “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.”
The Spirit of God does not lead every man to the same office in the church. We read in verse 7, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” Does God bestow his Spirit upon any man? What is it for? Not simply to please him and make him happy, but to profit withal; that is, he who receives it should use it profitably in Christ’s church. Then Paul mentions a number of gifts which God has placed in the church: The word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, and divers kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues; “but all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will;” that is, as the Spirit of God wills. Then Paul uses a very beautiful illustration to show the necessity of the different gifts in the church. Verses 12–19. “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. And the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body?” Here is a perfect body. But notice how many and how diverse kinds of members it is composed of. The eye is a very important and honorable member; yet it would not do to have the whole body an eye. The hand is very useful, and its office is an honorable one; but yet it would not do to have the body all a hand. In order to have a perfect, useful, and efficient body, it needs not only eyes and hands, but also feet, toes, &c.; but because the foot is not the hand, shall it therefore refuse to work at all, unless it can be exalted to that high position? No; it works on quietly and continually in the humble position where God has placed it.
So in the church of Christ; some offices are more humble than others, yet equally indispensable. Apostles are needed to have a general oversight of the work, the care of the whole church. 2 Cor. 11:28.
Prophets may be called the eyes of the church. They foresee and warn the church of coming danger. Evangelists are necessary that they may go out into new places, and carry the truth into new fields.
But that portion of my text to which I wish to call especial attention, comes under the term, “HELPS,” or helpers. These are neither apostles, nor prophets, nor evangelists; and not necessarily even teachers; for the apostle names all those in addition to these helps. If we carefully read the Bible, especially the New Testament, we shall find these helpers frequently referred to. A helper is one who assists another in a subordinate position. Generals and captains in armies have their helpers, those who assist them in their affairs, and make things as easy and convenient for them as may be.
In Rom. 16:3, Paul says, “Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus.” Priscilla and Aquila belonged to this class of helpers in Christ. Let us carefully notice their history, and we shall learn what kind of helpers they were, as recorded in Acts 18:1–4. “After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; and found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome); and came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought; for by their occupation they were tent-makers. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.”
When Paul came to Corinth, Priscilla and Aquila took him to their house. It will be noticed that they owned a house. Rom. 16:5, “Likewise greet the church that is in their house.” Hence they were not of the poor class who gave themselves to the work of the Lord, simply to make a living. When Paul left Corinth to go into Syria, he took Priscilla and Aquila with him. At Ephesus there was a great work to be done. The brethren needed help, yet Paul could not stay with them; so he left this noble couple there to assist them, counsel them, and teach them the way carefully. Acts 18:18–20. When they desired him to tarry a longer time with them, he consented not. He did not leave them there to preach or exhort, but simply to counsel, to advise, and prayerfully instruct, the young disciples in the work of the Lord. Whilst they were there, Apollos, an eloquent and zealous man, came there to preach, knowing only a part of the work, the baptism of John. Verse 27. “And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue; whom when Priscilla and Aquila had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.” This man they took to their house, and prayerfully taught him the way of the Lord more perfectly. From this circumstance, we can form an idea of the nature of their work. They were neither apostles, prophets, nor preachers; but they had given their lives to the cause of God to occupy the humble office of helpers. They went from house to house and from church to church, privately counseling, advising, and instructing, the young disciples, babes in Christ. Their office was a hard, self-denying, laborious one. They could not see any very great fruits of it. But patiently and quietly they labored on doing what they could. Paul has spoken of them often and always very highly. Rom. 16:3–5. “Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus; who have for my life laid down their own necks; unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house.” They gave their lives to help Paul. What a noble testimony he bears of them; and not only he, but all the churches of the Gentiles were indebted to them.
Such helpers are most earnestly demanded in this work just now. The field is opening, opening everywhere. The harvest is ripening, but the laborers, where are they? A few ministers are scattered here and there, over the wide field, giving the light to others. Often alone and unassisted, they go out into new fields to toil and labor and bear the whole burden of everything, with no one to assist, counsel, or encourage them, without any one to lighten their burdens in the least.
Often a good interest is started, a little company of from a dozen to fifty, is brought out with a few days’ labor. But is the work done then? Oh! no; it is just commenced. Now these babes in Christ need nourishing, feeding with milk, need thoroughly instructing in all points of the truth. Not only do they need preaching, but they need a living example before them in their midst. Very generally the minister is so pressed with work that after a stay of three or four weeks, or as soon as they are decided to keep the Sabbath, he has to leave them. They know but little about the truth, are unacquainted with our system, and know but little about our doctrine. All their instruction, all their habits, have been in a very different direction. They come together for their prayer-meeting, Bible-class, or Sabbath-school; but who among them is prepared to be their leader, to teach and properly instruct them? It is not possible that there should be one who is properly qualified to do it. They are all babes, and need some tender, nursing father and mother to feed them.
Now had we some faithful helpers in Christ, like Priscilla and Aquila, to come right in here and live the truth before them, take the lead in their prayer-meetings, help them in their Sabbath-schools, visit from house to house, encourage them, and lead them to the Lord, what great good might be accomplished. How different would be the history of many of these little societies from what it now is. Oh! that the Spirit of God would come upon our brethren and sisters, and give them a burden of this work. Souls are perishing, starving, dying, for the very help that they might have, were all the gifts properly brought out in the church. Here is a work in which many might engage who have but humble talents. They need not preach, nor even exhort; but go with the Spirit of God and a tender heart, and quietly lead these souls till they are able to walk alone.
Where are our missionaries? Where is the missionary spirit? Are there not those among us who can devote their lives to this holy work? I am satisfied that there are scores among us who might fill these places with profit to the cause of Christ; who are now leading selfish and almost useless lives. Their excuse is, that they cannot do anything. But let the Spirit of God come upon them, let them feel the importance of this work, the shortness of time, the worth of precious souls; let them get their hearts full of love and tenderness and sympathy; then let them go out with humbleness, and take Christ with them, and they will find that they can do something.
Where are the young men and women who have enough of the missionary spirit to devote themselves to this work? Are there no strong men and women among us, or fathers and mothers, who can for the Lord’s sake leave their homes, and like Aquila and Priscilla, go forth and labor in a humble way as helpers in the cause of Christ? If ministers have to sacrifice all for the work, why not others do the same? Time is very short, and souls are perishing.
Here is a testimony from the Lord, which ought to move our souls to action. Ps. 126:5, 6: “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” If we only had the spirit to do this, and felt the burden of it, the Lord would soon open the way for us to work.
Not only are laborers needed in this department of the work; but also in many places there are burdens to be borne, which are now thrown upon God’s ministers which ought not to be carried by them. God’s faithful ministers are so few that they ought to give all their time to prayer and ministry of the word. This question once came up in the apostles’ time. Read the record of it, and consider whether similar action is not necessary now. Acts 6:1–4: “And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” How reasonable and proper was this action! Says the apostle, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. We will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word; but they on their part should look out honest men to see to the business, to serve tables, and relieve those whom God had called to preach the word.
We find this was constantly practised by all the early ministers. Whenever they went, they always had helpers with them to lighten their burdens, to hold up their hands, and do the serving of tables. Is this not just as right and necessary now as then? Have we no such gifts among us? I cannot believe that this is so.
The trouble is, those who are qualified to be helpers in the cause are so tied up with worldly affairs, with their own business; they have such a talent for making money and conducting their worldly affairs that they cannot think of leaving this and giving these talents of business to the Lord. Those who have hardly ability to provide for their own household, and who make poor work in managing their own affairs, are ready to give up all any day and give themselves to the work of the Lord. But they are not the ones who are wanted. It wants men and women who can do something and make their mark anywhere. Such men God can use. I am satisfied that there are scores of these men that ought to be in the work of the Lord, who now are at work on their farms and in their shops. Will not the time soon come when God will move out these men to consecrate themselves to God?
When God has had a special work to do, he has always raised up more or less of this class to be helpers in doing it. Moses had his helpers in Caleb and Joshua. Elisha left his twelve yoke of oxen, and all his worldly interest, to follow Elijah, and ministered unto him. 1 Kings 19:19–21. When Elisha became exalted to be a prophet, God gave him Gehazi as a helper. Jeremiah had a faithful Baruch as an earnest helper in the Lord. Jer. 36:4–8. Many women gave their lives to minister unto Christ during his preaching. Matt. 27:55. John Mark went with Paul and Barnabas as their helper. Acts 12:25; 13:5. Paul generally had several of these helpers with him, to send on any business here or there that he had to perform. Acts 19:22.
Read the sixteenth chapter of Romans, and notice how common a thing it was to have helpers in Christ, and how many faithful men and women of this class God raised up to them. Not only men, but women gave themselves to this work of traveling from church to church, not as preachers or lecturers, or even teachers, so far as the record appears; but simply to have an oversight and care of the business of the church. Rom. 16:1–6, 9, 12. “I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; that ye receive her in the Lord as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you; for she hath been a succorer of many and of myself also. Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus; who have for my life laid down their own necks; unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. Greet Mary, who bestowed much labor on us. Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which labored much in the Lord.”
It appears that those helpers were chosen by the church for this purpose. 2 Cor. 8:19: “And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind.” At this time it seems to us that the cause needs these kind of helpers more than any other.