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Practical Thoughts

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 22, 1872

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 40, No. 19.

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Practical Thoughts.

By Daniel T. Bourdeau

WORK ENOUGH FOR ALL.

THIS we will find to be true if we form a correct idea of the magnitude of the work connected with the last message, and are willing to act any part the Lord would have us, to advance his cause. God knows the place each of his children is best adapted to fill, and each one should know the work God has assigned him to do.
As each organ of the body has a specific function to fulfill, so each member of the body of Christ has a specific work to perform, to the glory of the great Head of the church. The eye cannot do the work assigned to the foot, nor the foot that assigned to the ear; yet each member of the body sympathizes with the other members, and by doing its own work, the prosperity of the whole body is promoted. So with the different members of the body of Christ.
We have often heard of certain organs of the body breaking down by working vicariously, i. e. performing the work of other organs; so many persons have been known to break their backs by taking upon themselves burdens that others should bear. No one individual should monopolize the work God has divided for many to perform. Very often we should give others an opportunity to work if they cannot do as well as ourselves. Perhaps they have been inefficient for want of exercise, and should have an opportunity to work, that they may improve while relieving our burdens.
If we have not got the abilities to do as great a work as another, we should not through envy and jealousy fall back on dignity and do nothing, or be discouraged. God does not measure character and bestow reward so much by the amount that one does as by the principles that actuate us in doing. We know that God does not require of us more than we can do. But the great difficulty with most of us is that we do not accomplish as much as we might, for waiting to do a great work, and not doing the humble work of to day.
D. T. BOURDEAU.