THE VALUE OF MISSIONARY LABOR.
By F. Gould
“Therefore every scribe instructed unto the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.” Matt. 13:52. Believing that the above scripture teaches that every true disciple of Christ can, and is required to, do something to hold out the light of gospel truth to those who sit in darkness, we propose to mention a few facts in relation to our work as missionaries in the wide harvest field. Many excuse themselves from doing missionary work on the ground that they have no talent for talking the truth understandingly nor writing properly, and that they have no means; therefore they will content themselves by sitting down upon the stool of do-nothing, while poor sinners are stumbling over them into perdition. Such persons labor under a great mistake. The numerous and varied channels and avenues which are opening before us present ways by which all, whether learned or unlearned, rich or poor, can do something for the cause of the Master. The declaration of Christ: “Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive,” should forcibly stir us to diligence and activity. I look over the great harvest field and see many, especially young men and women, standing idle in the market-place. What a record must such have to meet when called to an account for the manner in which they have improved their God-given faculties! The question may be asked here, What constitutes a missionary? I would answer, A God-fearing, law-abiding, and self-sacrificing person, one who devotes a portion of his time, talents, and means to the good of his fellow-men. It is a life work, and God has placed ample means in the church to accomplish the work. Paul lays out the work upon a broad basis. I will call attention to 1 Cor. 12:27, 28. Speaking of the different gifts and instrumentalities employed in the church, he says, “Now we are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments,159diversities of tongues.” Who are those that are called helps? I answer, All true Christians that work in harmony with God and his truth. The servants of God have laid out the great framework, and it is for us to chink up the wall. The next is “governments.” Government, order, and harmony, in the church are indispensable. The church, when it gets into good working order, will go like clock work—harmonious in all its parts. We read in Luke 14 that there were three calls made to a great supper. The third call is identical with the third angel’s message: “And the lord said unto his servants, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” This is a message which tests character, teaches true moral worth, teaches us to confess our sins, and to forsake them, and to live in harmony with the laws of our being. Going out into the highways and hedges implies something more than preaching the truth in the broadways and populous cities, something more than preaching it to our churches alone, or dwelling securely in ceiled houses waiting for the moving of the waters. The Lord is in earnest with his people. We are to go out into different districts, towns, private houses, among the poor, and all classes, with the truth burning in our hearts, taking with us a quantity of our tracts and publications and scattering them wherever people will read. In this way we shall reach a class of minds which could not otherwise be reached. The field of operations which the providence of God is opening before us is world wide, and we must lay hold of the work in earnest. The Tract and Missionary enterprise is one of the most important branches connected with our work of bringing men and women to a saving knowledge of the truth. It supplies a lack and want which has long been felt among us. The few years of its existence show a large increase of members, strength, and knowledge of the word of God. Our publications and tracts, when sent out and scattered like the leaves of autumn, reach a large class of minds which cannot be reached by the living preacher. These silent messengers go out into the surrounding darkness, and, like flaming torches or like the light-house upon the distant shore, they direct honest men and women into the way of life, and build them up upon the principles of eternal truth. The truths of the third angel’s message are very unpopular. The great mass of minds are prejudiced against them. They do not harmonize with their early education, therefore they cannot accept them. When the servants of God enter new fields, they labor hard until they exhaust their best energies to remove prejudice before they can reach the minds of the people. When our tract and missionary laborers go before them, all the candid and honest read and become interested, so that when the living preacher comes, they receive the truth with gladness and singleness of heart. Many have been brought out by these light-bearers, who never heard a discourse on the subject of present truth. How often are our hearts cheered when we hear of isolated and lonely ones dating their experience to the reading of one of those silent and swift-winged messengers that some kind friend had sent to them. “Speed on, ye messengers of love,
Your light and truth impart.
God owns your mission from above,
To every contrite heart.
“Look! yonder on the whitening fields
The rip’ning grain bends low,
And quickly to the sickle yields
As we to the harvest go.” We read in the Scriptures that Abraham was called the friend of God, and had that faith which was accounted unto him for righteousness, and was a representative of the true people of God. The secret of his success was that he commanded his children and his household after him, that they might keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment. Abraham was a home missionary. His work commenced in his own home and family circle. We must begin here. He established in his own family the fundamental principles of the Christian religion, which were law, order, family worship, love, temperance, faith, obedience, and reverence for the God of Heaven. We cannot expect to be successful missionaries abroad until we have planted the standard of righteousness in our own households. Family worship is often neglected. O let us keep the taper of salvation burning upon the altar until all the dross be consumed. The next important step is to educate our children, teach them correct habits, mold their young minds into a love for God and his truth, that they may develop a righteous character, so that “our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth, and our daughters as corner-stones polished after the similitude of a palace.” The wise man says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” They should be educated in the paths of righteousness; virtue should grow with their growth, and strengthen with their strength. Let them have recourse to our tracts and publications, and take away from them the vile trash which is so often thrown in their way. This is an important part of our missionary work. Ye fathers and mothers in Israel, I appeal to you. Are we doing all we can in this respect? May God help us. There is another class of missionary work that is very important, and is often neglected by us. We should visit the sick, and impart comfort and consolation to the afflicted, pray with them, and talk to them courage and hope. This is a time when their minds are tender and easily impressed. If they do not understand the laws of health, teach them how to live in harmony with the laws of their being, and also in relation to treatment and diet. Teach them to discard drugs and to use such means as God has ordained for the recovery and maintenance of health. There are many among us, who think they can do little or nothing, who are well qualified for this labor; such may have a glorious reward. Christian temperance, as taught in the word of God, is founded upon a broad basis, and is included in the last message of mercy to man. It is true that temperance societies are doing some good in this great branch of reform; but their efforts are crippled, they do not begin at the root of the evil. Remove the cause and the effect will cease. The great mass of mankind are indulging in the habit of eating stimulating and high-seasoned food. This creates an appetite for something stronger. Next comes tobacco with its long train of evils. Still the appetite craves something stronger. Next come alcoholic drinks, which only add fuel to the flame; and thus the work of destruction goes on. I have found by experience and observation that when persons live healthfully, discard stimulating and high-seasoned food, and obey nature’s laws, this morbid appetite ceases, and returns to its normal condition. We can then appreciate our God-given faculties and the blessings which he has bestowed upon us, and be better prepared to use them to his glory. A great many are in darkness in relation to these things. Oh! may we, with a true missionary spirit, search out the honest and those that are seeking after light. If you cannot go where they are, write. Paper and ink cost but little. Stir them up by way of remembrance. Says the psalmist, “Send out thy light and thy truth.” We may feel weak, but “God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the mighty.” Then let us take courage. We often get discouraged because we do not see the immediate fruits of our labor. We cannot see as God sees; he has a special care for those that love him, and he pities those that hate him. “Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days.” “In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.” We have been informed that missionaries in the past have labored for years without seeing but little fruit as the result of their labors; yet they were not discouraged, realizing that the conversion of a single soul was more precious in the sight of God than all earthly considerations. We are not machines, acting only as we are moved upon by some compelling power, but free moral agents, to think, act, and develop character, and to use our moral and intellectual faculties to the honor and glory of God. Therefore, we are amenable to God and his law; for his law constitutes the whole duty of man. A good soldier obeys his general, and fights for life, liberty, and the laws of his country. To illustrate: In the war of the revolution, when the British invaded Boston, they pitched battle with the Provincial troops on the field of Lexington. Israel Putnam, the Revolutionary hero, was plowing in the field some miles distant. Suddenly he heard the booming of cannon and the sound of the drum. His soul was fired with patriotism. He unyoked his oxen in the furrow, gave his family a few hasty directions, mounted his horse, and started for the scene of action. He did not stop to confer with flesh and blood. The people of God are fighting for a better country. They hear the voice of the dragon in the distance. They are mustering their forces. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Just beyond this scene of strife appear the beautiful heights of Mt. Zion, and the city of God. In conclusion I would say, Let us seek a new consecration to God, take hold of the missionary work in earnest, each in his proper sphere move so that we can hear the “well done good and faithful servant.” It was said of the celebrated John Wesley when on his dying bed,— “The chamber where the good man meets
His fate is privileged beyond
The common walks of social life
Quite on the verge of Heaven.” Scatter the seed bravely, nobly, and well,
All o’er the highways through hedges and dell.
Speak words of good cheer be courteous and kind,
A true friend in Jesus most surely you’ll find.
Scatter the seed bravely, the kingdom is nearing;
Your account will be settled at Jesus’ appearing.
Make a clean record of thought, word, and deed;
And save perishing souls by sowing good seed.
Scatter the seed bravely, the work is most done,
The warfare most over, the victory most won.
Come rest from thy labors, receive the glad prize
Awaiting in Heaven the good and the wise.
F. GOULD.