“My Reward Is With Me to Give Every Man According as His Work Shall Be”
By R. A. Underwood
WE rejoice for the great good that has been accomplished, and the relief given to our schools from the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons.” Our brethren and sisters who have engaged in this work have testified to rich experiences and blessings gained in this personal work, and, best of all, precious souls have been led to Christ and his truth for this time by the sale of this book. All our brethren and sisters acknowledge that all this is so, yet only about one half of the debts against the schools have been raised by the plan so clearly outlined by the Spirit of God. With a plan that was heaven-born, and every effort signally blessed of God in its execution, we are led to ask, Why has not the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons” cleared the schools of this denomination from debt ere this? If God has ever called upon a people to unite in accomplishing a work, it has been the work to clear our schools from debt by the sale of this book. It was first thought by our brethren in charge of the plans to accomplish the sale of this book to clear the schools from debt, that, if each one of our people would sell six books, the debts would be lifted, and our schools could sing the song of jubilee. Our brethren and sisters generally assented to this idea, and all were urged to sell the quota of six books for each member of the church. The results have been that a few among the many have sold considerable more than their quota of six books. Instead of continuing in this good work, as a rule, these have settled down with the feeling that they have done their full share of this work, and are giving the subject but little further thought. Another class worked faithfully till they had sold just six books, and then, with a feeling that they had done their duty in this matter, have rested at ease over the subject; while in most places a much larger number felt an interest in the work, but for some reason have failed to sell more than one or two books. There is yet another class in some localities, numbering not a few, that have never sold a book. These persons seem to feel little or no responsibility in the matter. With this state of things, which is the actual condition in many conferences, it is well to inquire, What can be done to cause the work so nobly begun to be finished, and all our schools be set free? We must have clearly in mind the divine plan for the sale of this book, and the work it was designed to accomplish. We have this quite fully and clearly stated in an advance sheet from “Testimonies21for the Church,” Vol. VIII, soon to be published. Under the heading “The Future Use of ‘Object Lessons,’” are the following paragraphs:— “The use which should be made of ‘Object Lessons’ in the future has been made clear to me, and I must write to my brethren in regard to it. Letters have been received from our canvassing agents in which they say that they think it would be a good plan for ‘Object Lessons’ to be handled as a regular subscription book as soon as the relief-of-the-schools’ campaign is finished. . . . As my son read me one of these letters, the thought came to me: ‘Here is an opportunity for me to get out of debt. Is not this the right thing to do?’ . . . then I sent to heaven the prayer, ‘Lord, teach me to speak right words.’ Quickly the answer came. In an instant the light given me at the first regarding ‘Object Lessons’ flashed into my mind, and the instruction then given was repeated. I seemed to hear the words, ‘God signified that this book should be given to our schools, to be to them a continual blessing. Would you exchange his plan for human devising? This book is to be treated as a sacred offering made to God; and as his plan regarding it is unselfishly carried out, the result will be wholly satisfactory.’ . . . The plan for the circulation of ‘Object Lessons’ is not of human devising; it is God’s plan. He signified that this book should be a gift to our schools. Thus far it has done its work, and God has set his approval on the self-sacrificing efforts of his people. Shall we mar his plan?—No, no! Until the Lord shall come, and our present system of school work shall be ended by our entering the higher school, ‘Christ’s Object Lessons’ is to stand as a gift to our educational institutions.” Let all the people say, Amen. With this clear instruction as to the future work of this book, to my own mind several things are made clear. One point that stands out prominently is that as long as our educational institutions are in need of funds to aid them in their work, “Christ’s Object Lessons” is to be a source of revenue. Another thought suggested by this instruction is that God has never placed a limit of any specified number of books to be sold by an individual, church, or conference as his or their “quota.” But the needs and opportunities of the educational work are the measure of the personal self-sacrificing efforts to be made by individuals, churches, and conferences in behalf of the sale of this book till the end of time, and this embraces the measure of the value of the souls that will be saved as the result of the personal efforts made to sell this book; for I read in this same Testimony that “many will shine in the kingdom of God whose conversion was the result of the efforts of our brethren and sisters to sell ‘Christ’s Object Lessons.’” It is not my purpose to criticize any plan that has been thought best to recommend for the advancement of this work, but however well the specified quota of six books for each member has served in the past, it seems to me that this plan must soon give way to a broader one. So far as I have read what the spirit of prophecy has said about the sale of this book, I have never seen a statement that recommended the quota plan. This plan doubtless has served to stimulate some, hence served a good purpose in the beginning of the work with this book; but if it is made the ideal measure of our efforts, the plan itself will defeat the purpose of God. It is clear from the preceding instruction that God’s purpose in the sale and circulation of this book is as broad as the needs of the educational work, also an important means in the salvation of many souls. With this thought in view, who shall say, when he has sold a specified number of books, My duty is done? What church or conference can say, We are released from the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” though the given quota of six books for each member has been sold? There are souls to be won and saved through the personal efforts of some one. What conference, church, or individual that may have been the instrument used by God in the salvation of a certain number of souls, perchance its quota, would say, I am through, so long as there was a soul to be saved?—Not one; so it seems to me in this work on “Christ’s Object Lessons.” If we have sold six or more, we should keep on, as individuals, churches, and conferences, till the Lord gives us our release at the coming of Christ. If we have not sold six books or more, we certainly ought to pray for courage and strength to do the work God has called us to do, for our children’s sake, and for the sake of the unsaved about us. The King’s business requires haste. May we do quickly the work of to-day, for he comes soon to reward every man according as his work shall be. R. A. UNDERWOOD.