WANTED by M. Wood

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 25, 1877

WANTED

By M. Wood

Missionaries for God are wanted,—faithful men and women, who will stand at their post unflinchingly, who will not shirk responsibilities, but who, under any circumstances, will be found faithfully performing their duty in the fear of God. The truth must be brought before the people in a careful manner, by those who unite meekness with wisdom;—by those who are “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves;” who search the Scriptures; become familiar with the truths applicable to the closing scenes of probation; seek God’s face and favor; and whose hearts are filled with love to God and for perishing souls around them.

If we have the true missionary spirit burning within our breasts, we shall not hold ourselves aloof from our fellow-men, but come close to them; for their souls are as precious as our own. We shall carry the light into their homes; and in a gentle spirit plead with them to come to Jesus, pray for them and with them when it seems proper, show them there are higher attainments they may reach, and then speak to them of the sacred truths for these last days. We have seen within the last few weeks most glorious results from this kind of missionary labor.

God calls for men and women of stability, of firm purpose, of the stamina of John the Baptist, who could not be swerved and governed by circumstances. There are those who, in times of religious peril, may almost always be found in the ranks of the enemy. If they have any influence, it is exerted on the wrong side. They do not see the importance of entering upon the work of God with an undivided heart, nor the moral obligation they are under of giving all their strength to the support of the truth they profess. Such will receive a reward according to their works.

We need to return to primitive holiness, to come nearer to God; we need to draw fresh and frequent supplies of sap from the Living Vine: we shall thus be better prepared to carry out the principles of the law of God in all the relations of every-day life. God has spoken to us as to no other people since the days of the apostles. He has given his servants light, and knowledge of his will, to be communicated to others. We may become living channels through which this light may find its way to honest hearts; and in the kingdom of glory we may see souls saved by our feeble efforts.

It is use that gives power to the muscles and the brain. And nothing will give greater spiritual strength than visiting the sick and desponding, ministering to them, and helping them to see the light, and to fasten their faith upon Jesus.

Giving a tract, loaning a book, or speaking a word upon present truth, is not all there is to the great work of saving souls. Christ took the disagreeable task upon himself of leaving the royal courts of Heaven, coming from the abode of purity and unsurpassed glory, to dwell a man among men. “He was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” This work he voluntarily took upon himself. He sought not his own ease and comfort. “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.” He took up his abode in a world seared and blackened by crime, violence, and iniquity. He did this to save souls, and shall the objects of such amazing love and unparalleled condescension excuse their lives of selfishness, and feel at ease in Zion? Shall we choose our own pleasure, and leave souls to perish, because we shall meet with disappointments and rebuffs if we labor to save them? Christ paid an infinite price for man’s redemption, and shall we say, “Lord, I will not labor in thy vineyard; I pray thee, have me excused”?

The Master says, “Go labor in my vineyard,”—not next week or next month, but to-day. It is now that God wants prayerful, faithful workers, who will sow beside all waters. Those who labor thus will be surprised to find how trials resolutely borne for the sake of Jesus will give firmness to the faith, and renew the courage. In humble obedience is hope. Jesus says, “Behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be.” The reward which Paul looked forward to (Titus 4: 8; 1 Cor. 9: 25) will be lost by those who do nothing for Jesus. Weak hands will be unable to cling to the Mighty One of Israel; feeble knees will fail to support in the day of adversity. Christian workers will receive the glorious prize, and hear the “Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

Never were there such openings for workers (especially in New England) as at the present moment. God has wrought for this Conference in a most wonderful manner. Eld. Canright, and his corps of faithful helpers at Danvers, are constantly hearing from famishing souls in the adjoining towns, the Macedonian cry, “Come over, and help us.”

The cause needs help now; it needs brain and muscle; it needs the sanctified heart and consecrated purse. Some when in poverty are generous of their little, but become penurious as they acquire property. They will invest their means in uncertain speculations; they will manifest great wisdom in accumulating filthy lucre. And one reason why they have so little faith in God and his closing work is because they do not keep giving, as God prospers them. Under the Jewish system the Lord required the first-fruits,—the first-fruits of the corn, the wine, the oil, and the wool were to be consecrated as an offering to him. The gleanings and the corners of the fields were reserved for the poor; for our gracious Heavenly Father has not forgotten their wants. At the feast it was commanded that the poor, the widows, the orphans, and the strangers should be invited. At the close of every year all were required to make solemn oath whether or not they had done according to the command of God. This arrangement was made by the Lord, to impress upon the people that in every matter he must be first. They were to bear in mind that their gracious Master was the true proprietor of their fields, their flocks, and their herds. See Ps. 50: 10–12; Haggai 2: 8. All is the Lord’s: we are simply acting as stewards of his goods.

The liberality displayed by the Jews in the construction of the tabernacle and the erection of the temple, illustrates a spirit of benevolence which might be imitated by those even who profess to be looking for the soon-coming of the Saviour. Freed from their long bondage in Egypt, they became wanderers in the wilderness; yet scarcely were they delivered from the armies of the Egyptians, who pursued them in their hasty journey, when the word of the Lord came to Moses, saying, “Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering, of every man that giveth it willingly, with his heart, ye shall take my offering.” The people had small possessions, and no flattering prospects of adding to them, but an object was before them, to build a tabernacle for God. They withheld nothing; all gave with a willing hand, not a tenth of their increase, but a large portion of the principal of their capital stock. They devoted it gladly and heartily to the Lord; by doing so they not only pleased God, but gave back to the lender his own.

There are at the present moment high and holy enterprises which require means in order to successfully carry them forward. They are too numerous to mention; but the attentive and interested readers of the Review are cognizant of them. And those who invest in these enterprises experience a more elevated and permanent enjoyment than if their means were expended for personal gratification or selfishly hoarded for greed of gain. All investments in the cause of God are profitable and safe. The money is placed in bags that have no holes: it is secure.

Can Christians living near the close of time, and boasting of a broader light than the Hebrews had, be satisfied with their

offerings when not half so large as were those of the Jews? Their liberality was to benefit their own nation. The work in these last days is not a local work: it extends to the uttermost parts of the world. The message of truth is to go to all nations, tongues, and peoples: its publications, printed in many different languages, are to be scattered abroad like the leaves of autumn, until the whole earth shall be lighted with its glory.

The spirit of liberality is the spirit of Heaven. The spirit of selfishness and covetousness is the spirit of Satan. Christ’s self-sacrificing love was revealed upon the cross. He gave all he had, and then gave himself, that man might be saved. The cross of Christ appeals to the benevolence of every follower of the blessed Saviour. The principle illustrated there is to give, give. This, carried out after the principles laid down in God’s word, will manifest itself in good works and a saving faith. The principle of the worldling is to get, and to keep what he gets. “By their fruits ye shall know them;” and those who work upon this principle, and follow it up, thinking that gain is godliness, will make a sad mistake. The fruit of such labor is misery and death.

Our talents, our means, our knowledge, are not merely for our own benefit: these blessings are to be used for the salvation of souls, to elevate man from his life of sin, and to bring him, through Christ, to the Infinite God. “Ye are not your own: ye are bought with a price,”—one of infinite value, the precious blood of Christ. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” What an incomparable love is this,—a theme for the most profound meditation! Men who are captivated by Satan, and are crazy for gain, disappointed and unhappy in their pursuit of the world, need the knowledge of this truth to quiet the restless hungering and thirsting of their souls.

We repeat it: Missionaries are wanted, not only in New England, but wherever the sons of men dwell. Oh, for a thousand experienced missionaries to enter the fields white for the harvest! Oh, for those who will work, and watch, and pray, to lift weary souls to the bosom of a compassionate Redeemer! Oh, for hearts free from selfishness, that all our energies might be devoted to the work of Christ! We have the greatest work ever committed to the care of men, yet there are scores who profess to believe these sacred truths, who are paralyzed by the sophistry of Satan, and are doing nothing for God, for others, and for themselves, but who rather hinder the work. When will they act like those who wait for their Lord? M. Wood.