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WILL IT PAY?

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 2, 1878

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 51, No. 18.

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WILL IT PAY?

By J. B. Goodrich

We often hear people say they want to work where they can get the best pay; and all avail themselves of any opportunity to secure a place of labor where there will be no failure in this respect. This is both reasonable and right. How often we see men work for months, and then lose their wages.
Everything is uncertain in this life. But the person who enters the missionary field to work in the vineyard of the Master for the salvation of precious souls for whom Christ died, is engaged in a noble work, and the result will be glorious and the reward sure. There is no such thing as a failure in this cause; “but he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto eternal life.” Therefore, if we possess the real missionary spirit, and work in harmony with the mind of the Spirit of God, we need not fear the result. He who makes the right use of his talents and sacrifices for the truth’s sake will lay up in store for himself a good foundation against the time to come, and will be ready to lay hold on eternal life.
The apostle says: “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches [margin, uncertainty of riches], but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.” 1 Tim. 6:17,18. We shall soon be called to give an account of our stewardship, and the Judgment will reveal our true character; and if we are found to be the servants of God, we shall have our fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. It will be true wisdom for us to invest some of our capital in the cause of present truth; and it will pay, for in the end the promise will be fulfilled to us: “And that which he hath given will he pay him again.” Prov. 19:17.
Brethren and sisters, let our hearts beat in unison with the spirit of this work, and let our actions show that we believe that the third angel’s message is the last message to be given before Jesus comes. We are too near the Judgment to be picking at straws. There is so much work to be done that there is not a moment to spare in fault-finding. The Lord is coming, and that very soon; and who will be ready to meet him? Those that sacrifice self and all that they have for the truth’s sake. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Ps. 51:17. Will it pay to work for the Master? J. B. GOODRICH.