AM I CALLED TO THE CANVASSING WORK?
By J. B. BLOSSER
We have observed that, by the giving to men certain gifts, the Lord gave some, apostles; some, teachers; some, prophets, etc. The work therefore to which a man is called depends upon the “gifts” God may have bestowed upon that man. He may have so favored him that he may be called to do different kinds of work; for example, Paul was “appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher.” 2 Tim. 1:11. But since it is God alone that can correctly estimate the ability of any man, it must be He that does the selecting of the work that each should do. It is written, “He gave to every man his work.” It is the Holy Spirit that divides “to every man severally as He will.” 1 Cor. 12:11. It is God’s work, and is, therefore, a work that He has planned; and we should receive from Him our plans, as well as the particular work He has for us to do. But how does He choose to reveal to us our work, and the plans for it, and the methods of working?—Evidently He employs different modes of revealing them to us. For God, “at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets.” Heb. 1:1. The Lord is not limited in ways of speaking to the children of men. Our spiritual hearing may be so defective that He may4be compelled to adopt a means of communication that we will note, when we fail to hear, or heed another. To Abraham and Moses the Lord appeared, and spake face to face, giving them directions for their work. To others He chooses some one else to speak to them for Him, as in the cases of David, Saul, and the seven deacons at Jerusalem. Sometimes the Lord so arranges circumstances that they will guide one into the work, or the place designed for him. Joseph’s work in Egypt is a notable example of this. This latter mode, however, is usually a very harsh way of speaking to us, but often it is the only way the Lord can make us hear his voice, and assume our appointed work. No doubt in every case the Lord is speaking in all these ways, if we would only recognize His voice. That the Lord chooses His instruments, and reveals to them His plans for work, is clearly stated in the following: “The Lord has His eye upon every one of His people; He has his plans concerning each.” “As they seek the Lord for help, He will communicate with them. They will receive plans devised by the Lord himself.” “He provides opportunities, opens up means of influence and channels of working. If His people are watching the indications of His providence, and stand ready to co-operate with Him, a great work will be accomplished.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” No. 34. Let the honest inquirer for duty watch while he seeks the Lord for help, and rest assured that God will reveal to him whether he has called him to the canvassing work or not. It may be that he is calling him to some other responsibility through the canvassing work. If so, then let him take up the duty in God’s appointed way, and labor as earnestly as though he expected to stay there always. Then the Lord can bless his canvassing work, and will in his own good time make it clear to him when he has another work for him. Let each ask himself the question, “Is God appealing directly to me to take up this work?” He is saying that there should be “one hundred where there now is one.” Has He sent some one to you, whom you have evidences He is using, to urge you to take up this work? He is sending many such messages. The Lord is laying upon many of our brethren a burden to hold up before the people this work, and to urge them to consecrate themselves to it for a life service. Have they spoken to you? Has He spoken to you by his providential dealings with you? He has blessed many in the selling of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” which indicates that he would have some of them take hold of the regular canvassing work. Is there not something in your experience that he has used to impress you that you are wanted to work for him in this neglected work? He has said that what “we neglect to do in a time of comparative peace, we will be forced to do under a terrible pressure.” Too bad we do not now discern His loving voice. If in any of these ways, or in all of them, the Lord has been revealing his will to us, shall we not, like Isaiah, say quickly and gladly, “Here am I, send me”? THE FIRST STEP TO TAKE WHEN CALLED.
When the disciples responded to the call of the Saviour to follow him, they went with him from place to place, learning lessons from Him by observing his manner of working with the people. They followed him so perfectly that when they were themselves engaged in the work, the people recognized that they had been with Jesus, and learned of Him. So it was with David, Moses, Paul, and others. The Lord taught them lessons which they must learn before they could successfully do the work he had for them to do. The disciples were taught a few things, and then sent out for a season to get an experience, and to return to their lessons more thoroughly taught and to receive new ones. These principles apply in the canvassing work. “If God has called men to be laborers together with Him, it is equally certain that he has called them to make the best possible preparation to represent the sacred, elevating truths of his work.”—“Gospel Workers,” p. 282. “Those who have had an experience in this work, have a special duty to perform in teaching others. Educate, educate, educate young men and women to sell the books that the Lord, by His Holy Spirit, has stirred His servants to write.”—“Manual for Canvassers,” p. 64. No doubt in many cases where there has been an apparent failure, it has been due to neglecting this important step. When we consider the nature of the work of a canvasser, how he must meet all classes, under all circumstances, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh him a reason of the hope that is in him, with meekness and fear; ready always to speak a word of cheer to them that are weary, as well as to give intelligent counsel and help to the sick and afflicted, well may we heed this instruction to make a thorough preparation. We shall have more to say at another time on5this question; but, suffice it now to say, that each should “make the best possible preparation.” When this is done, the Lord can and will do for us that which we cannot do for ourselves. Shall we not regard the canvassing work as one of the parts of the Lord’s work, one of the essential gifts he has placed in his church for the edifying of the body of Christ? Shall we not give due prominence to it as one of the essential parts of that body, that there may be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care one of another? Shall we not regard the one whom the Lord is using in this work as one called of God; and, regarding him as such, will we not, by our prayers and sympathy, “hold up his hands,” and petition God that a door of utterance be opened unto him? Shall we not try to encourage those who have drifted out of the work to return with humble, trusting hearts to their Heaven-appointed work? If we unitedly do this, we shall see the work prosper as God designs it should.