Partners in God’s Work by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 12, 1907

Partners in God’s Work

By C. M. S.

We have a remarkably keen vision for the faults of others; and when we see them, we are always strongly tempted to blazon them forth that others may see them also. We go upon the supposition that people will consider us incapable of doing the things we condemn in others. It is generally a blind; for the one who is sincerely sorry for the sinful act of another goes to that other in the spirit of Christ and seeks to turn him from his sinful course, rather than to publish the matter to the world. To him who does so publish it these words of Paul will generally find an application: “Wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest dost practise the same things.” Rom. 2: 1.

The business of the true Christian is altogether different. “When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” That was one of our Saviour’s last admonitions to Peter, given before the denial, but remembered and practised through the remainder of Peter’s ardent life. It is likewise our Saviour’s admonition to every other converted soul. Christian helpfulness is one of the very first of Christian duties. Christian interest in the salvation of others is one of the very first examples left us by the first disciples of Christ. Having found the Lord themselves, they hastened to bring others to him.

Of every soul saved in the kingdom of God it will be said: “They helped each other.” The true Christian is a helper, not a hinderer; he seeks to establish, not to tear down; to find the good rather than to discover the bad; to tell something helpful rather than to give wings to calumny and distrust. Stepping-stones to the eternal world are not composed of any such deeds as tongue-traffic in the faults and woes of others. We are digging our own spiritual graves when we seek to bury another under slander, envy, innuendo, fault-hatching, misrepresentation, gossip. We may imagine we are doing these things with lofty motives; we shall find some day that we were engaged in the most barren and purposeless of occupations.

The Lord tells us through Paul, “We that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, unto edifying.” He also tells us through the psalmist, “The reproaches of them that reproach thee are fallen upon me.” Ps. 69: 9. If, when tempted to reproach a brother or sister, we would remember that that reproach falls upon Christ himself, we would not be so hasty in our condemnation of others. It is hardly Christian to be reproaching Christ; yet according to this scripture, Christ regards as directed against him, the reproaches, slanders, gossipings, which one professed Christian aims at another. Our duty is to strengthen the infirm one, rather than to publish his faults; to show him the right way, rather than to judge him for not walking in it. “If a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one;” and again: “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Gal. 6: 1, 2. It is the law of Christ, then, that we bear one another’s burdens and infirmities, rather than expose them to the gaze of others. The Christian is a strengthener, a lifter, an edifier.

Even though calumny may be directed against us, it is better to suffer the injury than to misrepresent to another the motive of the injurer. It is better for us to sit in the shadow of distrust ourselves than to cast a shadow upon the act or life of another. By encouraging one another, each has a part in the work of the other; and that is not the only partnership, for God makes himself a partner in the undertaking. Here is his promise to those who are willing to do this: “I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isa. 41: 10. God is doing that every moment for those who are his.

But the lesson is not properly learned if it is not applied; and it is not properly applied unless each applies it to himself. We may think we have made the application when we have applied the lesson of Christian helpfulness to our neighbor, as showing what he ought to do; but we have not. Such is bound to be a misapplication. It is not God’s design in the giving, and it will not work out his purpose in being thus applied.

Let each ask himself the questions, Have I helped my neighbor in the work which God has given him to do? Have I helped him in the work which I myself as an under-shepherd for God, may have placed in his hands? Have I helped him in his distress and perplexity both by word of encouragement and by a strong, personal lift when his own lack of lifting power was the thing that was slowly bearing him down? Or, unable to free him from that load myself, have I pointed him to the great Burden-bearer who is able? Have I helped him when I knew he was going wrong? Doing that kind of work is being helpful for God; it is being a worker together with God.

God has commanded those who are his to “be strong.” It is their duty as well as their blessed privilege so to be. Being strong, the duty of brotherly helpfulness follows as the day the night. We must be helpful, or we can not be his. The most blessed and joy-giving occupation in this world is being helpful for God.

C. M. S.