Promptness in God’s Service.
By S. N. Haskell
“Now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” These words were spoken by Ananias to Paul after they had learned what the will of God was. Saul was on his way from Jerusalem to Damascus, having authority to bring those Christians that were there bound unto Jerusalem to be punished. And it came to pass as he was nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone about him a great light, and a voice from heaven, saying, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” The inquiry was at once, “Who art thou, Lord?” The reply was, “I am Jesus of Nazareth whom thou persecutest.” Then with promptness came these words, “What shall I do, Lord?” He was told to “arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed thee to do.” The Spirit of God instructed Ananias to go to him and bear the following message: “The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be a witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.” After Ananias had delivered his message, he immediately said, “Now why tarriest thou?” &c. Acts 22. He that was thus called of God promptly obeyed. It was his uncompromising promptness in the service of God that made him so useful a man. He would not reason with sin for a moment. He did not count his life dear unto himself in accomplishing all the will of God concerning himself. On one occasion when the prophet Agabus notified Paul that he would be bound if he went up to Jerusalem, and in view of it the brethren wept, “Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 21:13. God has committed talents which are a means of usefulness to every one of his people. “For the kingdom of Heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.” Matt. 25:14, 15. Thus all are responsible to a greater or less extent in the cause of Christ. We have something to do to help spread the truth and bring men and women into the one fold. None can fold their hands and sit in idleness in this cause but at the peril of their soul. One in the parable alluded to tried it. “Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed; and I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth; lo, there thou hast that is thine.” Matt. 25:24, 25. The result of this was, the talent was taken from him and his portion was assigned into outer darkness, where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth. The work of the Christian is an aggressive work. Individually they are to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” Daily victories are to be gained over those selfish propensities which war against the soul. It is not a pleasant task to be crucified and die, yet this is really to take place with the carnal heart in the experience of all that are saved. Says the apostle, “I die daily.” The work of God is also aggressive in the world. And our duty in relation to this work is according to the nature of the work itself. If we live in a time when God has a special message to give to this world, a warning to go to many “peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings,” then certain steps must be taken to do this. Plans must be laid, and the work itself must be extended. The borders of Zion must be enlarged. The banner of truth must be unfolded and flung to the breeze in new fields. A promptness in this work on the part of God’s people should be manifested in every indication of the providence of God in this direction. It is cheering to the heart of every believer in present truth when any plan is laid to extend this work in new fields, when any enterprise presents itself that indicates progress. Then comes a question of importance to each one of us, What is my individual duty under the circumstances? What can I do to help these particular moves forward? The earnest prayers throughout the entire ranks of God’s people should ascend as the prayers of one man for its success. Our sympathies should be alive and drawn out in all such indications of God’s providence. Means should come in from the rich and the poor, and even children, according to the ability of each, to sustain such moves. It is when these various moves are new that help is most needed. It is when they are weak that one dollar will count more than ten after the mission or enterprise has become strong by many friends being raised up to sustain it. It is in such a crisis when special efforts should be made to advance in this work. And those who cannot see the importance of moving then are great losers spiritually. The question then comes home to us, How much faith have we in the work? Are our souls stirred to the very depths by these solemn truths? Does every pulsation of our hearts beat with lively emotion as the evidences appear from time to time that this truth is finding a reception in the hearts of almost every tongue under heaven? Do such moves as the Danish and Norwegian enterprise, the Swedish and Oregon Missions, stir our hearts? If so, where is the evidence of this in the responses to the calls for the work to be sustained? It is a great blessing to have a heart that can feel in times like this; and it is a great misfortune to have hearts so full of murmurings, or to become so overcharged with the cares of this life that there is no room for an interest that will lead us to a prompt action in these things. If we share in the victory we must take part in the conflict. Would we be strong in God, then energetic and prompt action on our part is necessary. Ere long and the work of grace closes, probation ends, and we are called upon to bring the talents committed to us to see how much every one has gained. If there is no gain, if we have not gathered with Christ, if the Judgment reveals that there be no fruit as the result of the talents God has committed to us, then no place will be found for us in the kingdom of God. Now is the time to “be ready to distribute,” to “lay up treasure in Heaven,” to “make our calling and election sure.” These are golden moments. God is calling to us by his providence and Spirit to move forward, to take advance steps in his precious cause. Happy is the man that knows the joyful sound and whose heart beats in unison with the Spirit of God in his work.