Systematic Effort by Stephen N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 13, 1873

Systematic Effort.

By Stephen N. Haskell

A UNITED effort is necessary for success in every enterprise. The moral of the story concerning a newly married man's throwing one end of a rope over his house and his wife and himself pulling on opposite ends, is as true now as ever. They were unsuccessful in removing it until both pulled in the same direction, then it was easily effected. “In union there is strength,” is as true in spiritual things as in temporal. The Saviour says that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in Heaven. And where there are many interested in accomplishing any one specific work, system is necessary to prevent confusion and insure success. Organization is but a term used to signify systematic effort. To arrange a system and then expect the system itself will accomplish the work without the spirit of the object to be obtained, would be folly in the extreme. Either of the two extremes has ever proved a failure in the cause of God. To lack a living faith in, and not possess the spirit of, the cause in which we are engaged, however good the system, results in a dry form. This is seen in the various denominations around us. It is equally fatal to possess zeal and lack order. Where this is the case, confusion is sure to follow, and discouragement is brought upon those who have the cause at heart.

The cause of present truth is of sufficient importance to enlist the sympathy and energy of every child of God, and it has reached a point where it is arresting the attention of the candid, the world over, and God-fearing men and women are embracing it and uniting their interests for its promulgation. None can say that we have reached that state of perfection where a certain round of duty is all that is required. But there must be a reaching forth unto those things which are before, a pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, if we, at the close of our earthly career, can exclaim, I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, and henceforth there is a crown laid up for me, &c.

In individual experience, there are new victories to gain daily, points to make in advance of where we now are, if we would develop that perfection of Christian principles which is so clearly set forth in the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is also true of us as a people. The truth, as yet, has not accomplished in the earth all that God designed it should. The world must be warned. The facilities to accomplish this must increase. We, as a people, cannot throw off these responsibilities until God releases us. The “well done” is said to those who have done the work God designed them to do, and to no others.

Any system that will bring the people of God into a position where they individually will feel the burden of this work, and then move in harmony, will forward this work and thus glorify God. Men, women, and the young, should feel a responsibility of casting an influence on the Lord’s side. Children can be so educated as to feel an interest in the cause of Christ. None can be mere spectators. All must feel some of the inspiring influence of the spirit of truth to lead them to activity and consecration, or else they will be wanting in the day of Judgment. When the cloud moves, all should move together, like a well-disciplined army. If the battle goes hard, let every person lift, and lift together.

This can be done by adopting a system which will place responsibilities upon proper persons to especially call the attention of each individual to the wants of the cause. Thus all show their interest by their prayers, their sympathy, and in giving of their means, and distributing the rays of light from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from nation to nation. And wherever there are men to whom God has committed his precious, saving truth, they should feel that the cause is one, and that they have a personal interest in it.

I am acquainted with children from six to ten years of age who are anxious to earn and save their pennies. Were you to ask them what for, they would say, To put into the missionary cause, or for widows and orphan children, or some enterprise connected with the cause of God, and they would utterly refuse to buy candies and such nicknacks as children usually buy. The tract and missionary work properly carried out as it is being adopted by Seventh-day Adventists will not only give all an opportunity to show their interest, but they can judiciously scatter the rays of light that are now shining in such a manner as will inspire confidence among the people everywhere. The work of God will prosper, and will triumph gloriously, when men and women lose their hold on this world, venture to consecrate themselves to God and unite their interest more firmly to exert all their influence for the upbuilding of Christ’s precious cause. It is not to fill some great calling in the eyes of the world, but to be faithful in the sphere of action the providence of God has assigned us. It is to move when God speaks, and do what we can, and do that well.

As far as the truth is concerned, we are a unit, and what we now plead for is a united action, that will call into activity the energies of the soul, and develop the talents that have long been buried. And although the numbers are as small as Gideon’s army after being reduced, yet the truth, accompanied by God’s Holy Spirit, will triumph and bear off the victory.

S. N. HASKELL.