Arise; for This Matter Belongeth Unto Thee
By Percy T. Magan
As the Bible is read with a sincere desire to know the will of God concerning the things pertaining to our own work and time, its fervent appeals to men of old become convicting messages to our own souls. How often the Holy Spirit hovers over a certain passage of Scripture, brooding there, until the chambers of the mind become illumined with its meaning, and the heart throbs with a divinely new and sacred inspiration to do and dare for God. Then that which we knew of, and was interested in, only in a most general and carnal manner, is suddenly transformed into our own peculiar, distinctive, individual work. An undying ambition is born in the soul to serve the Saviour in this particular thing. And in a special sense the place in the Bible which thus impressed us becomes a hallowed spot,—Peniel,—for there have we seen God face to face. The spirit of prophecy states that the book of Ezra contains wonderful lessons for this time. Ezra himself, and a number of his companions, left Babylon and went up to Jerusalem a short time after Zerubbabel had rebuilt the temple there. On the way they pitched their tents by the River Ahava, and abode three days. There Ezra proclaimed a fast, “that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.” Often in life’s journey it is necessary for us to afflict ourselves. It is in doing this that we seek of God “a right way.” For there is a “right way”—one right way, and only one right way, for each one of us. And this way is not only for us and our little ones, but “for all our substance.” Are there not many, even of those who number themselves among the remnant people, who would receive great spiritual blessing by pausing on the road to the New Jerusalem, and pitching the tents of their lives, as it were, by the River Ahava, and afflicting themselves before our God, “to seek of him a right way”? There are scores to whom the voice of conscience whispers that their lives are not in a right way. There are hundreds who are wandering in a wilderness way. Yes, and there are thousands who, beneath all their seeming indifference, are longing to know the “right way” for themselves and their little ones and all their substance. To Ezra it was revealed that the children of Israel had not separated themselves from the people of the lands, but were doing according to their abominations: “For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands.” They had done this, although God had commanded them, saying: “Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth forever: that you may be strong.” Are there not many among the holy seed to-day who, as far as their life and substance are concerned, have become wedded to the sons and daughters of the land, and who seek the peace and wealth of the land? To all such the Spirit says: Seek ye the peace of God and the wealth of heaven; wed yourselves to the work of the third angel’s message. To-day we are struggling under a heavy load to pay the debt of the old Battle Creek College, and to build the Emmanuel Missionary College at Berrien Springs. If all our brethren and sisters were walking in “a right way” with “all their substance,” how quickly would this struggle be over. If all of us were afflicting ourselves to seek of God a right way for all our substance, instead of investing and spending it according to our fancy, how long would it be ere the Battle Creek College debt would be wiped out, and the Emmanuel Missionary College built? Fourteen thousand dollars is due the Review and Herald at Battle Creek, Mich. The money is sadly needed, that the work may be established according to God’s own word at Washington. We have tried to borrow this money; but few have come forward with loans. Meanwhile the cause of God staggers and suffers, all because we do not afflict our souls, and seek a right way “for ourselves” and for “all our substance.” We know not how the Spirit of God can speak more plainly on this whole matter than it has. We know not how to set the needs of these enterprises before our people more clearly than has been done. We can only cast our souls upon God, as did Ezra, that he “may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.” We are commanded to pay every creditor of the Battle Creek College; we are urged to build the College at Berrien Springs, and to re-establish the publishing house at Washington. How can we do these things? They can not be accomplished without money. There are those who are donating every cent they can possibly afford. These stagger under the constant calls for means and the increasing weight of their sacrifices. The work will be retarded unless we all afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us and for all our substance. When Ezra pleaded before the Lord over the troubles and shortcomings of Israel, God heard his prayer, as God will hear again. As he sought to divorce the people from the world, and wed them and all their substance to the work of Christ, they nobly confessed their trespass, and began to make restitution. Not one, or two, or three, but “a very great congregation of men and women and children” took hold of the matter.20 To Ezra they came with the strengthening words: “Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.” To-day God’s Spirit speaks to all the children of the adoption, and says, “Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee,”—this missionary acre matter,—this matter of providing the means to cancel the debt on the Battle Creek College property that it may be used for the Medical Missionary College, and that some of the means necessary to re-establish the Review and Herald at Washington may be provided, and that the Emmanuel Missionary College may be built at Berrien Springs. “Arise; this matter belongeth unto thee.” Whether you made a pledge or not, whether you have determined to do anything or not, send in your trespass offering now. Lift up the hands of those who are endeavoring to carry out God’s plans, by saying: “We also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.”