The Missionary by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 1, 1880

The Missionary.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

The Master's loving eye doth see Each earnest effort in His name, Though shrouded in obscurity And all unknown to worldly fame. Upon each brow His hand shall set A glittering, fadeless coronet; Then who would faint, or fear, or stay From harvest toil? "Go, work to-day!"

A MISSIONARY SPIRIT.

WEBSTER defines a missionary as "one who is sent upon a mission." But this does not carry the full idea of the term as it is used when applied to the work of God. A more full definition would be, "One sent upon a mission to save souls." It is not necessary to go into a far country to be a true missionary, but wherever there are souls to save, there men and women should manifest a missionary spirit. It should commence in our own hearts, and its fruit be manifest in our lives, and be felt in our own families and neighborhoods.

Love is the motive from which the action springs. Love is an active principle, and cannot live without works. Its life consists in performing acts of disinterested benevolence. Love is a heavenly plant, and flourishes, not in the soil of the natural heart, but only in a heart renewed by the grace of God. It never becomes weary in doing good to others, for "it suffers long and is kind." Christ was the great exemplar of this principle. And just in proportion to the amount of his spirit which we possess, will we labor for the upbuilding of the cause for which he shed his blood.

The heart will be drawn out after souls for whom Christ died. It will feel the misery of others, and cannot be at ease at the sight of suffering. Christ was rich, but he became poor that we through his poverty might become rich. To bear the burden of others, to alleviate their sorrows and sufferings without having in view a reward in this life, is an important feature of the Christian religion. "When thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and thou shalt be blessed." For what reason? "For they cannot recompense thee." Now the time is mentioned when the reward is given, "But thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just."

To be a successful missionary requires true wisdom. "He that winneth souls is wise." The apostle concluded he had run in vain unless success attended his labors. He exhorts the Philippians to "do all things without murmurings and disputings," "holding forth the word of life," that he might rejoice in the day of Christ that he had not run in vain, neither labored in vain. Phil. 2: 14-16. The consequences are too serious to enter upon the work of the Lord in a reckless manner. Eternal results rest upon present moves. If selfish motives prompt to action, even if it be to give all our goods to feed the poor, God does not accept it.

Christ, in the person of his unfortunate people, is often passed by unnoticed, because it requires patient sacrificing labor to care for them. To take an interest in such cases is the true missionary spirit exemplified. It reaches out for the salvation of others, and manifests itself in placing before others those blessings which God has bestowed upon us. We cannot enjoy these things alone. The exclusive "me and mine" feeling is no part of the Christian religion. Exclusiveness is a trait of the carnal heart, and belongs to the sinner. No comparison can be drawn between temporal things, and the worth of souls.

The precious blood of the Son of God which was shed for the salvation of mankind, tells the worth of the soul. And he who for the sake of sordid gain or personal ease, will neglect to labor for the salvation of others, and will let worldly interests come in between him and such labor, deceives himself if he thinks he possesses the Christian religion. Christ left riches, honor, and glory, and took upon himself poverty in the extreme. He had not where to lay his head. He came to his own, and his own received him not. Yea, we did esteem him stricken of God and afflicted. He was despised by men, yet he went about imparting life to the dead, health to the sick, and joy to the sorrowing. This was the missionary spirit as exemplified in the Son of God. And if we have not the spirit of Christ we are none of his.

S. N. HASKELL.