Random Thoughts by John Nevins Andrews

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 21, 1870

Random Thoughts.

By John Nevins Andrews

NOTHING VALUABLE IN HARVEST BUT FRUIT.

This is sought in harvest, and if there is nothing to be found, there is nothing to repay the labor of the husbandman. He has put forth his efforts for this, and it is this alone that is valuable to him. The fruit is gathered into the garner, and all else is cast away or set aside as simply useless or pernicious. What a solemn admonition to us. If we bear no fruit, or if we bear evil fruit, we shall find ourselves condemned in the Judgment. Yet it need not be thus with us. Not deeds that make a great display, but such as God shall see no self in, are those which he desires at our hands. Acts of patient submission, acts of self-denial, acts of secret good to others, no less than acts of active obedience to the public duties of life, God will accept of us. But if our lives have been spent in seeking only our own good, and we have done nothing for God, and for our fellow-men, we shall come to the harvest with nothing but leaves. What sort of an examination shall we sustain in the Judgment? Our lives even now declare the results. With many of us no fruit will appear in the Judgment, simply because we bear none now. Useless lives will end in final ruin. Let us consider our case as it really is, and act as those that must pass a strict account.

IMPROVEMENT OF TIME.

Life is at longest very short. We begin to die as soon as we begin to live. Only a limited existence is granted us, and it begins to expire as soon as it begins to be. It is like a machine wound up for action, which can run only till it runs down. The Scriptures admonish us in every way of its brevity and its speedy termination. And this grand lesson is urged upon our attention that we make the most of our time by wisely improving it. Of all the commodities granted by heaven, time is the most precious. It is given us in the smallest atoms, and each one is capable of being used to the honor of God, and for the well being of our fellow-men. Eternal things are suspended upon the swiftly fleeting moments. We have not one to waste. We are to be rewarded according to our works, and reckoned with according to our opportunities. Who of us is able to meet this strict account? Let us no longer suffer our time to waste, because we have it in atoms. Let every one be used in well doing.

SMALL THINGS.

Life is not made up of great deeds but small ones. It is folly to stand idle, waiting for some great deed to

do, when there are plenty of small things which we can do in the cause of God or for our fellow-men. It is the providence of God that assigns our work. We have only one simple rule to follow: “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” Eccl 9:10. Let God appoint our work, and assign our time, but let us work while the day lasts with untiring diligence.

USEFUL LIVES.

We need not lead useless lives. Every one of us can do something for God. Our lives of activity or our examples of patient suffering, can all tell for Christ. “They also serve who only stand and wait.”

WHO APPOINTS OUR TOIL?

Could we bear in mind always that our toil is assigned us by our Lord, we should be more careful how we utter words of complaint at the burdens we bear. It is not for us to murmur, though our lot is hard and that of others light and pleasant. God says, “Do this for me and I will reward you at the resurrection of the just.” If the work be very painful, he will not forget this when he bestows the reward. If others are excused from such burdens, they will not be rewarded with the blessing in reserve for us. He who appoints our toil will faithfully reward our patient labor. Do not murmur against him. It is his business to fix our labor and our reward. Let us be thankful that he has counted us worthy of a place in his great work.

J. N. ANDREWS.