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Strive Lawfully

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Review and Herald Publishing Assn. · Washington, D.C. · Dec 31, 1903

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 80, No. 52.

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“Strive Lawfully”

By W. A. Theo. Miller

W. A. THEO. MILLER
A few days ago a young Japanese who is familiar with United States history, asked me to tell him what the Monroe doctrine was. After making clear to his mind that the Monroe doctrine forbids any power of the Old World to interfere with any struggling, weaker government of this continent, he said: “When I was in Japan, I could not conceive the meaning of that doctrine, because the army of the United States of America began to conquer the Filipinos who were very anxious to form a government by themselves, and for themselves, and enjoy the liberties that the few people of this country fought for under the leadership of George Washington. No, I could not understand. And when I was interpreter for my army at the time the allied powers occupied China, we marched up to Peking, her capital, and the Chinese told me that they could not understand the Monroe doctrine; but now I understand; it’s good doctrine. Thank you very much!”
In the apostle Paul’s second letter to Timothy, who was entering the work of God as a minister of the gospel, we read: “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” 2 Tim. 2:3-5.
Again: “The husbandman that laboreth must be first partaker of the fruits.” Verse 6. Does not this teach the doctrine that “they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel”? Is not the laborer “worthy of his hire”? Do not “they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple”?
“Uncle Sam’s” soldiers who are engaged in war with the Filipinos are paid by him, and for the reason that they are serving him, and not themselves. They knew before they joined the army what their wages would be, and they reckoned those wages to be sufficient to supply their needs while they were serving him who called them to the battle; but to the soldier of Jesus Christ the promise is, “Whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.”
Both letters to Timothy contain special instruction to the ministry. To be convinced of that one needs but to give them a careful reading.
The Lord has never said that a Christian can not lawfully perform secular labor, or engage in secular business. On the contrary, he plainly tells us that we, as Christians, are to be diligent in business, and that we are to do all our common work “as unto Christ; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.” Eph. 6:6. But I am at great loss to know what the Lord desires to teach us in the foregoing Bible quotations if it is not that those who are called of God to proclaim the glad tidings of salvation are to be supported by those who accept the salvation declared unto them. If the ministers of to-day were, to a man, faithfully carrying out this instruction, refusing to engage in worldly affairs, and especially in speculation, would not the believers feel a deeper interest in the message as well as in the messengers, and with increased confidence in the work of God, lay their tithe and their offerings at the disposal of the Lord’s consecrated, sanctified servants? Thus minister and people and the precious cause of present truth would be enriched with both spiritual and material blessings.
“While you stand in the position of a herald of truth, a watchman upon the wall of Zion, you can not have your interest interwoven with mining or real-estate business, and at the same time do effectually the sacred work committed to your hands. Where the souls of men are at stake, where eternal things are involved, the interest can not safely be divided.”
“Especially should the minister keep himself from every worldly entanglement, and bind himself to the Source of all power, that he may represent correctly what it means to be a Christian. He should cut loose from everything that would in any way divert his mind from God and the great work for this time.”—Testimony, No. 33, pages 58, 59.
“Lord, increase our faith.”
“Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.” 2 Chron. 20:20. And let all the people say, “Amen!”