THE SPIRIT OF LABOR by Lizzie S. Campbell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 9, 1879

THE SPIRIT OF LABOR.

By Lizzie S. Campbell

[The following essay was read at the last annual meeting of the Illinois Tract Society, at Bloomington, Illinois, Sept. 2, 1878. By request, the writer has kindly furnished it for publication.—Ed.]

It is a distinguishing feature of the religion of Jesus, that in proportion as its saving influence is felt in the heart do we seek to bring others into the same blessed truth. While there are some who are especially called of God to proclaim his salvation to the people, there is also work that the weakest and humblest may perform.

Among the agencies that have been most manifestly owned and sanctioned by the providence of God is the tract and missionary society. When we consider the progress and magnitude of the work, we cannot but realize that it holds an important place in the advancement of the cause of God. From small beginnings it has arisen to be a power in the land, and it appears that we are only standing on the threshold. The Lord sets before us an open door. He says to us, as he said to Israel, “Go forward.” Let us not be unfaithful, and prove recreant to the trust he commits to us.

It may be interesting to contrast the labor performed by the Illinois T. and M. Society during the past year with that of the year preceding, in order that we may learn whether we are improving our opportunities and going forward with the work, as we should. The number of reports returned for the past year is 479; for the preceding year, 378: families visited the past year, 2,593; during the preceding year, 1,590: new subscribers obtained the past year, 254; the year preceding, 427. While the reports of the past year show a decided and encouraging gain in the number of reports returned, letters written, families visited, etc., there is a falling off in the number of new subscribers. Doubtless all have not been reported. This brings to mind the importance of faithfully reporting all we do, however small the item.

Some of us may feel like undervaluing our efforts, because we can do but little, or because we do not see immediate results. Let us esteem nothing of small moment that tends to advance the cause of God. A seemingly trifling incident has often changed the whole current of a life. A gentleman went into a store on business. A tract lay on the counter. Its title, “Has the Command to Keep Holy the Seventh Day ever been Revoked?” attracted his attention. This was all he read; but the question followed him for weeks and months, until he began to search the Bible, and to-day he is observing the Sabbath of the Lord. Surely this was a very small item of labor, to simply place a tract upon the counter. Dare any of us say that we can do nothing?

Fellow-laborers in this blessed cause, let us be more diligent in this service than ever before. Let the coming year see glorious results in Illinois. Let us resolve, by the help of the Lord, not to rest until every honest soul has been reached by the light of present truth. Let us give ourselves to the Lord to be worn out in his service, and seek to become effectual workers in his vineyard, that at his appearing we may come with rejoicing, bringing our sheaves with us.

LIZZIE S. CAMPBELL.