OPPORTUNITY FOR A GOOD WORK.
IN these times, when God is calling upon men to consecrate themselves and their means to the furtherance of his work, that the earth may be speedily ripened up for the harvest, many anxious souls, not satisfied with the giving of their means for the work in general, would like to engage in some special work, in which they may see the fruits of their individual efforts. Everyone interested in God's work for this age should be personally connected with it. All have talents that must be improved in order to obtain the promised reward. Parents of large families, whose time is demanded to provide for their children, can do acceptable missionary work by educating their children and preparing them to become workers in the Master's vineyard. Every soul saved through the efforts of the child will be partially credited to the parents, who have by sacrifice prepared him for his glorious work. How much greater satisfaction it must be to pious parents to know that their children are devoted to God and his service than the consciousness that their minds are engrossed with self and worldly ambition. If you would not have them partake of the spirit of the world, set them an example that you would gladly have them follow. Teach them to sacrifice by sacrificing yourselves. Send them to school with the understanding that they are to be educated for the work of the Master. Make sacrifices to do so and God's blessing will attend both parent and child if you have in view only his glory and honor. There are many persons without children, who feel that they would like to do something more than they are doing for the spread of the gospel. Let such give themselves to the522work. If they feel that they are not prepared to labor publicly, let them go to one of our excellent schools and educate themselves to engage in the work, that they may become workmen that need not to be ashamed; or, if for any reason that plan is impracticable, they could do a noble work in selecting some devoted young person who desires to devote his life to the work of God, but is unable for lack of means to properly prepare himself for it, and thus educating him to do the work that they themselves are unable to do. In case the proper selection is made, satisfactory results will be sure to follow. It was this policy that placed in the missionary field a poor young German, who had little or no hope of ever being able to engage in the work to which his life is now devoted. A worthy brother seeing that there was something substantial and worthy in his character, conceived the idea of investing some of his means in the young German's education, that he might become a missionary among the German people, for whom, at that time, very little had been done to warn them of the world's approaching doom. What then is the sequel? In the six years of his ministry, this young man has been instrumental in the conversion of more people than any other minister among Seventh-day Adventists. Scores embrace the truth at almost every place he attempts to labor. More than a thousand German Adventists have been converted directly or indirectly through his labors. Who doubts but that in the great day of accounts the brother who sent him to school will have stars in his crown for the noble part he took in the education of this young man, who is accomplishing, through the blessing of God, so great a work? But God has other young men and also young women, who are capable, with proper training, to accomplish as great a work as this young man is doing. Let our brethren and sisters of means search out such and encourage them to come to our schools that they may be fitted to engage in the closing work of the gospel. What our hands find to do, let us do it with our might, for the work will soon be over, and then our sacrifices will be of no avail.—Student's Workshop.