A Splendid Opportunity by A. G. Daniells

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Nov 24, 1904

A Splendid Opportunity

By A. G. Daniells

As the light of the third angel’s message found its way to the minds and hearts of the pioneers in this cause, there came with it a conviction that in some way within their lifetime that message would be carried by consecrated workers to every nation in this world. Some of these pioneers are still living, and to-day this message is being proclaimed in nearly every nation on the earth.

Let us thank God that at least a few of the loyal, self-sacrificing believers who were with this cause at its beginning are still with us, and that the word of God which gave the convictions that came to them has been so wonderfully fulfilled. These pioneers were alone in the world; they were without means, and did not have a single facility of any kind whatever. From a human standpoint, there was not the least evidence that the cause to which they were committed would ever grow to its present proportions. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.

But this wonderful development of this work has brought with it a corresponding increase of responsibility. The seventy-seven thousand who are now sharing the blessings of this message are called to the same devotion and loyal support of this cause that its pioneers manifested.

The one great material need of this cause to-day is more workers. Never before since this message opened, have there been so many pressing, touching calls from the fields for messengers. And the one great reason why these calls are not more promptly and fully responded to is because there is not the money in the treasury to meet the expenses and support of more laborers. There are many educated men and women whose hearts yearn to go to the lands from which these pleading calls come for help, but we can not send them because of the one regrettable fact that we have not the money in our treasury.

The money is in the denomination, but those who have it do not all fully realize the need of placing it where it can now be used. The Lord has greatly blessed Seventh-day Adventists. In addition to the general prosperity of good crops, high prices, an abundance of work at high wages, the Lord has shown us, through the message he has given us, how to live so that we as a people save more than a million dollars every year that our neighbors spend in liquor, tobacco, tea, coffee, and amusements. We could give to this cause for missions every year the sum thus saved, and then be as well off as our neighbors who spend that amount for that which not only does them no good, but actual harm.

The College View council held last September called for an annual offering this winter of eighty thousand dollars. This council was attended by nearly every member of the General Conference Committee living in the United States, and by many presidents of conferences. These brethren considered the field and its needs with the greatest care. It was their profound conviction that eighty thousand dollars must be given at this annual offering in order to meet the demands pressing upon us at this time.

This can be done by our people without distressing any one. God has given us the means. We appeal to our brethren and sisters of means to take this matter to heart. There is no other cause on earth so worthy of your loyal, liberal support. The Lord has given you this message and the property you have, that you may pass the message on to the perishing. You are stewards, and great is the responsibility of that stewardship.

Dear friends of the cause, will you come to its help at this time? We do not say it is sinking. We do not claim that it is on the point of bankruptcy. It is not going that way. But, dear friends, it needs larger wings that it may fly with greater speed. It struggles to rise and enlarge and cover the earth; but it is hindered by lack of means.

Brother, you can well afford to draw a thousand dollars from your bank deposit, and place it in the annual offering. You can well afford to sell some of your cattle or sheep or land, for the sole purpose of placing a contribution of five hundred dollars in the annual offering this year. Some one must rise to the plane of larger giving if this cause is not greatly delayed from this day by a lack of means. Who is willing deliberately to take the responsibility and results of delaying God’s work by withholding the gifts that might be made? May the Lord move our hearts to large giving, that both the world and ourselves may receive the blessings that will follow.

A. G. DANIELLS.