Application Gives Success by William Covert

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

Application Gives Success

By William Covert

WILLIAM COVERT

Much is said, and truthfully, too, about the wonderful success which attended the labors of the apostle Paul. And is not the reason of his excellence in gospel work to be found in his superior application in this business?

Solomon says that a man who is diligent in his business shall stand before kings, and not before obscure men, Prov. 22:29. Men who rank high in their calling are always men who labor hard, and who devote much thought and care to the interests which they are trying to build up. It was Paul's well-directed industry, blended with his consecrated devotion under the Lord, that provides so many bright stars for his crown. When he went into a field to give the gospel to a people, he began his work without giving the enemy time to fortify against him. Before a company of church elders he said, “Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons.” Acts 20:18. He was so thorough in his teaching that he fearlessly presented the whole truth, and his burden for the people was such that he shed many tears because of their shortcomings. He preached in the public congregation, and also went from house to house to supplement his sermons and to search out those who might be helped by personal labor. He worked impartially for both Jews and Greeks. He acknowledged himself a debtor to the wise and to the unwise, saying, “As much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel.” Rom. 1:15.

For a period of three years he labored without a vacation, and regularly extended his services into the night season. Acts 20:31. He had no covetous desire for money nor for apparel, but during this period of more than a thousand days he supported himself with his own hands, and also ministered to the wants of those who were with him.

Himself and those workers whom he trained for evangelistic labor gave the gospel of Christ to both the Jews and the Greeks in all Asia Minor, and also to the people of Europe. Their ardent love for God, coupled with their great zeal for soul winning, made them invincible wherever they went. Not everybody was saved where they taught, but all were left without excuse, and so thoroughly did he do his work that he could say, “I am pure from the blood

of all men.” He also said, “We have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man.”

When Paul was well advanced in years, he continued services through all the night at Troas, and the following morning he went on foot to Assos, a distance of nineteen and one-half miles, to overtake the boat that had sailed out of port at Troas the evening before while he was engaged in holding his farewell meeting. He evidently chose the long night of service and the lengthy march the next day in order to give himself more time to do a thorough work with the church where he had been holding important meetings.

We may never in our work equal the consecration and the application that characterized the labors of the apostle Paul, but it would be possible for us to hold more meetings, make more missionary visits, give more Bible readings, and distribute more of our literature than we have been doing. There is room for improvement. If we should watch the moments as they come and improve them all, we could give the message a little more rapidly and earnestly than we are now doing.

We are responsible for what we might do, but fail to accomplish through lack of application. Shall we not have to render an account to God for the standard of efficiency that we might have reached in our work, but failed to attain because we neglected to apply ourselves?

Chicago, Ill.