ILLUSTRATIONS OF ACCEPTABLE SERVICE.
By David Paulson
THERE is no one who has carefully examined the foundation stones which God laid for this entire reformatory movement, but must be convinced that Providence intended this whole people to stand before the world as a medical missionary denomination. Although the path of the early pioneers in this message was not illuminated with such brilliant rays of light as now dazzle our eyes, they eagerly caught the few rays of light that came to them, and passed them on to their fellow men by voice, pen, and act. Our leading workers in those days wrote just as stirring articles in reference to the gospel of physical salvation as they wrote upon that phase of the gospel that pertains to the soul. Those men dug deep into the mine of truth, and consequently they both preached and lived reform. At a Western camp-meeting over twenty years ago while Elder James White was preaching the truth from the platform, the word was passed to him that a man had just been drawn out of the river, apparently drowned. He left the desk and repaired to the spot, and without a moment’s delay put the patient into precisely the proper position, and administered artificial respiration just as intelligently as he preached the life-saving gospel a few moments before to saints and sinners. These old pioneers have either died or have become too feeble to continue the work which God committed to their hands, and which should have long ago lightened the whole earth with its glory. Almost a new generation has arisen, but many of them apparently do not “know Joseph.” The most scientific singing or talking is not positive evidence of a spirit of true service. These may be cheap fruits that are easily tied on, and which the unconsecrated heart can readily imitate, and sometimes they have been passed off for the genuine for a considerable length of time. It is now becoming extremely popular on the part of many to perform all their services through the agency of various boards or committees, or, in other words, by proxy. There are thousands of people who feel perfectly satisfied when they have shifted the personal responsibility that they owe to their fellow man upon the shoulders of some one else. It is not without significance that it is said of almost every man with whom Christ came in contact in His ministry that He touched him. He might have appointed a committee for the purpose of relieving the distressed, but in that case His work could never have been such a perfect illustration and example of what acceptable service really is,—that service in which the reliever comes into contact with the one to be relieved. There are three great armies marshaling in the field. The largest of these is marching toward the graveyard, another is directed toward the prison cell, while the third is on its way to the lunatic asylum. The numbers that make up each of these armies are appalling. If the Lord did not especially raise up this people to labor to disperse these three armies, and out of them organize another army which is to march with triumphant step toward the city of God, then we have absolutely no excuse for existence. It is a great thing to raise a person from the dead, but it is a still greater thing to impart to a well person certain life-saving principles, which, if adopted, will prevent him from dying. If we hold our peace at this time, then shall deliverance arise from another place, but we and our father’s house shall be destroyed, for who knoweth but that we are come to the kingdom for such a time as this? The world needs to know something that they are not receiving; and if we, like Hezekiah, fail to be true to our trust, then the Lord will raise up Daniels who will be faithful exponents of the reformatory truths that the world must have at this time. Nehemiah’s work is a good example of acceptable service. He built a wall in troublous times. This is precisely what we, or some one else if we fail to do our work, must do. His enemies scoffed at his efforts to “revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish,” and we shall meet with scoffing when we begin our work for the outcast and the downtrodden. There will be those who will indulge in slighting remarks in reference to those who are trying to do their duty toward lost humanity. Nehemiah’s workmen wrought with one of their hands in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. This is unlike some workers to-day, who leave their Bibles at home. Half of the laborers worked while the others held the weapons of warfare. Very menial service, indeed, but it was just as acceptable in the sight of God as was the service of those who had the more practical work of building the wall. Such a spirit of intense earnestness had taken possession of these workmen that they did not put off their clothes “saving that every one put them off for washing.” Neh. 4:23. No one would have needed to camp in the vicinity of this work for several weeks in order to discover that these people had a special work on their hands. Gideon had only a comparatively few men to begin with, and from a human standpoint they were not too many, but he had too many of the wrong kind. When the proclamation had been given for those who were fearful, to return, the largest number of those who remained, although they possessed enough bravery, did not have enough of the real self-sacrificing spirit to make their service acceptable. As they passed down by the water, a small number of them hastily scooped up to their mouths a few handfuls of water, and passed up over the hill, filled with the spirit of battle; while the greater number, undoubtedly, carefully and cautiously gathered grass and leaves to put under their knees so as to make it as comfortable as possible for themselves as they drank, thinking that they might not have such a good chance again, and had better get as much comfort out of life as they could while it lasted. But there were a few who had so entirely forgotten themselves that in the great crisis the only thought that filled their minds was “the sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.” It did not occur to them to mention anything in reference to themselves; they needed neither credit nor flattery to inspire them to perform their services. David declared of Jonathan that his love “was wonderful, passing the love of women” (2 Sam. 1:26); nevertheless, he was so imbued with the spirit of acceptable service that in a national crisis, he, with only his armor-bearer, was willing to brave what must have appeared as certain death before the enemy. But as a result of this personal effort, the Scriptures declare that “there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.” 1 Sam. 14:15. This remarkable object lesson of personal service inspired the backslidden Hebrews who had gone over to the Philistines, to return and take their places with their brethren, and also those who had been so timid as to hide among the mountains, came and followed hard after the Philistines into the battle. Like causes always produce like effects. When the Spirit of the Lord shall have had an opportunity to take similar possession of our lives so that we shall be led to move against the enemy in the same effective manner as Jonathan did, then the multitudes who have become discouraged by the prevailing lethargy, shall receive fresh courage again to take their position in the ranks of God’s people. We do not have to fight the Philistines as Jonathan did. We have a greater work than that. Our work is to fight those wrong habits that laid twenty-seven millions of people in this nation on beds of illness last year. With the help of God we must contend against the prevailing indifference that exists in regard to God’s claims upon humanity, not only physically but also spiritually; and when we become mightily stirred in regard to our duties, then we shall see a wall again reared, because it can then be truthfully said that the people have a “mind to work.” 1. After studying carefully the origin of this work, in what light was it their privilege to have it set before the world? 2. Compare the Christian with the worldly method of dispersing charity, and state your own convictions as to the relative merit of each plan. 3. Into how many great armies is society to be enlisted? In which of these are you enlisted? 4. From a practical standpoint, which is the greatest gift to possess—the ability to raise the dead, or a disposition to teach the people methods of living which prevent unnecessary deaths? 5. How many helpful truths have you succeeded in extracting from the fourth chapter of Nehemiah? 6. What purpose do you think God expected to accomplish by having the seventh chapter of Judges placed on record? 7. What beautiful example do we have in the Bible which illustrates the fact that a man’s heart may be full of the tenderest love, and yet he have sufficient moral courage to do personal work for others? 8. Try to estimate how many premature deaths would have been prevented, and how many of those who are now wretched invalids would be rejoicing in physical and spiritual health, if each one of us had been true to the trust God has committed to this denomination. 9. Are you going to permit God to raise up others to do your work, and then eventually wear your crown?