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WEARINESS IN WORK

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 11, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 6.

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WEARINESS IN WORK.

In this age of pronounced opposition to the simple gospel it is not unusual for the children of God to be sorely tempted to abandon their work because of the weakness of the flesh. A mere glance at the issues involved in the mighty struggle between good and evil now going on in the world, ought to convince everyone of the importance of resisting all such temptations.
Nothing would gratify the adversary of souls more than to reduce the ranks of Christian workers in this way. Such desertion would strengthen the kingdom of darkness, would weaken, in a corresponding degree, the kingdom of light, and would certainly tend to impoverish the spiritual natures of these unfaithful servants. Professor Austin Phelps once wrote to a friend as follows: "It is a sad thing to put one's self out of the line of God's work prematurely. I earnestly wish to avoid that if I may."
We are not in this world merely to absorb truth and consume our time in pious contemplation. We are here to "show ourselves men" in obeying the divine command. In this cause it is very encouraging to remember that the final awards will be administered on the ground of improved talents, and not on the ground of their real or supposed possession; the "well done" is given to those who have been, in a scriptural sense, "good and faithful." They are not given to those concerning whom it is only said, "They are talented or influential."
When tempted to forsake the post of duty, we do well to recall the unselfish devotion of those who are toiling in foreign lands or in the newly settled portions of our country. Amid persecutions and discouragements they toil on, joyful for the privilege. In distant lands native converts are giving us examples of true-hearted service for Jesus and of liberal giving out of their poverty, which often put our easy-going charity and benevolence to shame. "Let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap if we faint not."—Christian Advocate.