What Can I Do? by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 29, 1885

What Can I Do?

By Editor

THAT there are a great many Christians who are rendering no service to the Lord, we have had occasion already to call attention to. In answer to this fact, and in extenuation of this habitual idleness in matters of Christian and church work, it is often said, "I do not know what I can do," or, "I do not know what to do." We are morally sure that this, also, is an excuse; for any one who desires to serve God need not be a day without work to do, and plenty of it. It happens not infrequently that we are brought in contact with young men who cannot afford to live without labor, and whose parents can ill afford to support them in idleness. We hold such in contempt. And if they answer, as they generally do, as concerning their idleness, "We do not know what to do," we set them down at once as deliberately lazy, and conclude that they do not want to do anything. They would be glad, no doubt, to have some sinecure position, which would bring them income and entail no expense of service on their part. If any man in this country has not "something to do," as a rule it is because he is not willing to do anything, or at least not "whatsoever his hands may find to do."

It is much more true that, if any Christian is idle as to the Lord's work, on the ground that he does not know what to do, it must be because he has not set his heart to serve the Lord. This growing habit of doing nothing in the vineyard of the Lord, no doubt arises partly from the idea that there is no work to be done except that which is done by the wholly set apart ministry, such as pastors, evangelists, and missionaries, and the elders, deacons, and deaconesses of the church, together with the Sabbath-school teachers. But there is a great amount of other work to be done besides this, which should fire every Christian with zeal to serve God.

You need not preach, you need not teach in the Sabbath-school; yet there is much that you can do. Do you ask us to point out some work for you to do? Well, we are quite willing; but we are a little skeptical as to whether you will do it; and yet, in the hope that you may prove your willingness, we will suggest some little things which you may easily do. You might go and see that sick neighbor of yours, of whom you have heard the pastor speak, especially if he is a member of the church; and when you go you might just carry a little flower with you, and a little sunshine out of your own heart, if you have any there; and if you have no sunshine yourself, it is probable that, before you come out of the sick room, where you have gone just to say that you were sorry that your neighbor was sick, and that you hoped he would soon be better, you will get a little for your own comfort.

It is wonderful how our own souls get blessed in doing a little kindness to another in the name of the Lord and for the love of the brethren. Or, there is that brother you know of, who has for a long while back lost his interest in spiritual things. You have often spoken to others of his backslidden state, and expressed your surprise, and possibly your regret, or you may have even said a hard thing about him. But have you done aught to restore him? Now there is some work for you to do. Go to him and tell him how sorry you are that he has stopped coming to church, and that he is no more interested in religious and spiritual things, and tell him that you hope to see him once more among the flock, worshiping and serving God.

And then there is another brother, who, while he is not a backslider in the common acceptance of that term, for a long while has ceased to come to the prayer-meetings of the church, and is not always found in his place on the Sabbath; you might go to him and tell him you are sorry to miss him from the house of God so often and from the place of prayer entirely. Or, there is that new family who have recently moved into your neighborhood. You have seen them at church once, or perhaps have noticed that they did not go out at all on Sabbath. You may be sure they are lonely in their new surroundings and shy about going into a perfectly strange church, or, if they ventured in just once, they were wondering whether they would find a cordial welcome. Just step over and make them a neighborly call, and give them a cordial welcome to the church. Or, if you are a lady, you might go and take care of your neighbor's children and let her go to church occasionally. You know how she is tied down with her family of small children, and how weary she must be, wanting the help and cheer that comes from the worship of God in the sanctuary.—N. Y. Independent.