HEAVENLY OPPORTUNITIES by Eugene A. Brown

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 27, 1900

HEAVENLY OPPORTUNITIES.

By Eugene A. Brown

EUGENE A. BROWN.

(Phoenix, Ariz.)

In the large cities—the centers of population—one of the problems of the day is what to do with the man who is out of work. The penniless man is a character that is becoming more common, just in proportion as the wealth of the world is pouring into the hands of a few individuals.

Too often, indeed, the man without work and without money is the man without friends and without sympathy. He is an outcast. In this wretched condition, the heavy hand of the law is laid upon him, and the demand made: “Why are you tramping around all the time idle? Why don’t you go to work?” Useless it is for the poor man to tell of his sorrows, of his vain efforts to find work. The usual reply to his pathetic story has become a stereotyped phrase. The “justice” nonchalantly repeats, “Thirty days. Next!” And so the weary procession finds its way from street to prison, helpless before the majesty of the law. That is man’s dealing with man. That is man’s way of meeting the perplexing issue.

But while all this is going on before our very eyes, and we note the direful failure man and man’s “justice” are making to alleviate this condition of woe, another Questioner demands of us the very same thing. It is a heavenly voice, however, that makes this inquiry. It is the voice of a friend, a voice full of love and sympathy. The whole transaction may be found in Matt. 20: 1–16, particularly in verses 6, 7. That voice comes to us quietly, yet with authority: “Why stand ye here all the day idle?”

Turning from our survey of the struggling masses, we look toward the kingdom of God. Ah, how often that question from man’s lips has come but in mockery! How often it has been framed simply to draw forth an answer that would convict the discouraged wanderer. But our Heavenly Father deals differently from man. He has a place for everyone who is willing to labor. Indeed, he has carefully searched them out, and hailed every group that has gathered along the highway. Early in the morning we find him looking for workers, and until the last hour he continues to hail every idle man: “Go ye also into the vineyard.”

When man demands why man is idle, he offers him no place, but simply punishes him for not possessing that which he desires and is vainly seeking for. But God demands why man is idle, and furnishes the place to work. He asks not his nationality, his previous condition, nor his vocation. He regards not those tattered rags, nor that broadcloth suit. He accepts them all.

The fitting up for this work may be done at once. Every employer expects his men to be willing and obedient, and to take an interest in the work. So our heavenly Employer asks for our entire consecration. His wishes in the matter are defined in Col. 3: 17 and in 1 Cor. 10: 31: “Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,” and “to the glory of God.”

Those engaged in worldly labor often find themselves placed in positions where the work taxes their strength, their health, and their energies, until frequently they are broken down in health. Often the work is not congenial, it is beyond the capability of the worker. He works to accomplish a little, while other hands could have done better, in much less time, and with more ease. The love of money has so hardened the sensibilities of the employer that, as a rule, he gets all the work possible from his employees, regardless of their hardship. Nor do we ourselves know just what work we are exactly adapted to, could we have our choice in the matter at all times. This is the condition of labor under man’s rule.

But our loving Master not only provides a place for us in his vineyard, but he sets us to work at just the kind of labor we are adapted to, and that is congenial to our soul. No task that he gives us is beyond our strength, for “he giveth power to the faint.” There are no failures in our work when done according to his directions. He knows just how many talents each one possesses, and exactly what those talents are.

So the Lord not only calls us to work to his glory, and furnishes the work and the strength and wisdom to perform it, but he has so arranged his plans that each talent may be used in its place, precisely where it belongs in the total work. Knowing what is in man, and knowing every intricacy of the work to be done, our Employer is certainly able to superintend the work to the advantage of all concerned. Therefore we should not insist upon our plans and ideas being carried out in the Lord’s work; but, like the faithful laborers of old, follow where the Spirit leads.

We may be hard at work in the field, the store, the shop, the office, or any other place, yet, if we are not employed in the Lord’s work, we are idle; if our farming, or clerking, or whatever the work may be, is not itself the work of God, we are idle; and that question reaches down into our hearts, “Why stand ye here all the day idle?”

The only real labor that counts in heaven is labor in the Lord, is work that is the Lord’s work. This does not mean that we must change

our usual vocation; but it means that our work must be the Lord’s work wherever we are. We must not be idle while doing even man’s work.

You may be a blacksmith: you may have hammered for John Doe or Richard Roe for the last seventeen years. You may have devoted your best efforts to build up his business. Yet perhaps all this time you were idle, absolutely idle, so far as the winning of souls was concerned. Before you, for every day of those seventeen years, was passing, as it were, a vast, endless chain, with every link marked “Opportunity to cast influence for the kingdom of God.”

Ah, precious child of God! you were paid for by Jesus’ blood. You are his. You are in a land filled with those of another kingdom. They are under condemnation, under sentence of death for rebellion. Can you, brother, can you, sister, with the tender Christ-love in your heart, pass by one of these poor, wandering children in his unhappy condition, and not bear witness for him who died on Calvary? Our every conversation is an opportunity for God. In every person with whom we come in contact we are to see an opportunity to point heavenward. Perhaps before us stands one whom angels, after long seasons of effort, have succeeded in directing this way, with heart softened to hear the word. How many thousands of such opportunities do we allow to slip by without notice? Have we stood “here all the day idle”?

The thought strikes me that this simply points to the “loud cry” that we are expecting. It simply means for us who love the Lord, to get to work with all our heart, and do as faithful work in our sphere as do the angels in theirs, so that “old and young, both maids and little children, and women,” may all receive the wondrous tidings of the coming King.

I am trying, with the Lord’s help, to improve every golden opportunity as it flits by. In the last few months I have met many strangers. All the time I kept in view my responsibility to the Lord in each case. Sometimes, through my thoughtlessness, a person left my presence without the word of truth that should have been given. In many cases I found it difficult so to direct the conversation that the truth might be given. Then I lifted my heart to Jesus in prayer, and he never failed me. In every instance the way opened; and the angels, too, had prepared minds for just the words that were spoken. Praise the Lord for his love and goodness!

The following is a remarkable instance, illustrating this point: I met an atheist, very bitter against every form of religion, whom I had known many years ago. It so happened that I had been giving Bible readings, by invitation, to his married son, who resided in another part of the city.

The old man asked me what I was doing. “Missionary labor has been my principal work,” I replied. The word “missionary” seemed to anger him, and he changed the subject abruptly. Meanwhile I was asking the Lord for an opportunity to give him the light. Finally he asked me if I had called on his son.

“Certainly,” I answered, “I have been out there several times, and have also given him several Bible readings.”

“What!” he exclaimed, “did you take a Bible into Harry’s house?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And he allowed you to?”

“He invited me to, and seemed much interested.”

“Harry did? Well, I don’t believe he ever looked into a Bible before in his life. What denomination do you belong to, anyway?”

“Seventh-day Adventist.”

“I don’t know anything about their faith, but I want to know what there is to it. Next time you go out there, come and get me. Sure, now, don’t fail me. I want to hear those Bible readings.”

They are all interested at that home, and I hope to meet them in the kingdom. It is God who is placing these opportunities in our way, and he has told us to “arise, shine.” The light all comes from him, and to him be the glory.

“Why stand ye here all the day idle?” Surely, God has furnished work enough for us all. Let us fast and pray, that we may discern the work we are to do.