Missionary Work by William Ings

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 7, 1886

Missionary Work.

By William Ings

The tract and missionary society is the strong right arm of the Third Angel's Message. Elder Butler once made the statement that we could better dispense with the ministry than with this society. If the cause depended wholly on the ministry, only a few would ever hear the truth for this time; but with the help of the press, and a well-drilled force of missionary workers, every city, village, and hamlet can be reached.

Much work has already been done in circulating papers and tracts and in visiting from house to house, and much more could have been done had we been better prepared to do the work. Our work is a very important one, and we need skill and tact to perform it aright. It is no small matter to deal with the souls of men, and so Christ charges us to be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves." One little mistake may cause the ruin of a person who might have been saved had a different course been taken. When life is at stake, how careful we are to employ the most skillful physician; and shall we not be more careful when eternal interests are involved?

In order to be prepared for the work of saving our fellow-men, we must have a fitting up for the work. This we can gain by determined effort on our part, with the help of the Lord.

We need an unbounded love for the truth, a love that will cause us to act in reaching out for others. Then, again, we must have a knowledge of the Scriptures, and be ready always to give an answer with meekness and fear to every man that asks us a reason of our hope. We can gain this knowledge by paying heed to the admonition of our Saviour, to "search the Scriptures." The instruction given by Paul to Timothy is also good for us: "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim. 2:15.

We must have direct help from Heaven; for Christ says: "Without me, ye can do nothing;" "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." John 15:7. We need faith in our work, and also that simple trust that will take God at his word. For "without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Heb. 11:6. This is the kind of faith that moved Abraham to obey God. He believed the instruction given him, and moved out in obedience; and so it must be with us.

Our Saviour is bidding us labor in his vineyard. He has a work for each one of us to do; the plea that we have but one talent will not excuse us; but we are expected to improve our talent, and thus add to our usefulness and become efficient workers. Time is short, and we have no time to idle away. Many are going to ruin all around us, and we must do what we can to save them.

I know some will say, "How can I work? I do not know how. If some one will teach me, I will gladly do all in my power to spread the truth." This lesson can be learned from a careful and prayerful study of the Testimonies. These instructions are given from Heaven, to teach us just how to approach the people. From them we can also learn many lessons essential to our salvation. Let us give more earnest heed to this excellent instruction, which, if studied, will fit us for the work the Lord would have us do.

In another article, I propose to give some hints how the work should be done, as I am desirous of seeing every person in our Conference who professes to believe in the near coming of our Saviour, actively engaged in the Master's work. For all want it said of them, when the work is ended, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Matt. 25:21. WM. INGS.