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The Lord's Vineyard

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 8, 1873

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 41, No. 17.

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The Lord's Vineyard.

By C. LEE

How sacred is the work of laboring in the vineyard of the Lord! No one but he who has been engaged for some time in this holy calling can realize the sacredness as well as the responsibility and care connected with it.
When the servant of the Lord first looks over his field of labor, he often sees nothing but briers, nettles, and thistles; and it seems as if it was an utter impossibility to do any good in such a field. He still feels it to be his duty to make a trial. A most solemn feeling takes hold of him as he approaches the place where he intends to begin his work. He feels the need of strength. He realizes the want of courage. He bows before his God, and there receives strength and freedom to take hold of his labor. He thus puts his hands in among the burning nettles, and stinging briers, and succeeds in breaking off, or pulling up by the roots, one now and then. And as he continues, day after day, he at last finds that a tender plant here and there appears as soon as the Sun of Righteousness can shine in upon them.
Many a time he feels careworn and fatigued, as well as torn and disheartened, but as he sees that his labors are blessed, and that by returning to his God his strength is renewed, he toils on, looking to God for the reward of his labor.
Fellow laborer! do not give up your holy work, though it seem to wear your strength away. Get wholly loosed from all the ties that tend, in any way, to connect you with the world, and you will move more easily under the yoke of Christ, and your now-so-heavy burden will be light. Our labor is soon to be finished. The Lord of the vineyard will come! And then, blessed is the true worker, that has faithfully discharged his duty; his Lord will say unto him, “Well done, good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” (Matt. 25: 23.) C. LEE.