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Work for Women

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · May 23, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 21.

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Work for Women

By Mrs. Julia L. Zener

A Study From the Testimonies

1. Do the "Testimonies for the Church" speak of any work as having been begun among our sisters?
Yes; in Volume VI, pages 114-118, is a chapter entitled "Women to Be Gospel Workers," the opening words of which are, "The work that has been begun in helping our sisters."
2. To what work is reference here made?
It is supposed that reference is here made to a work begun by Sister S. M. I. Henry, about the time that this Testimony was published.
3. What is the object of this work?
To help "our sisters feel their individual accountability to God."
4. What is said of this work?
It "is a good and necessary work. Long has it been neglected."
5. What would the Lord have us know and teach?
"The Lord would have us ever urge the worth of the human soul upon those who do not understand its value."
6. How will this work affect the home?
"And when this work is laid out in clear, simple, definite lines, we may expect that the home duties, instead of being neglected, will be done much more intelligently."
7. Will organized effort help in advancing this work?
"If we can arrange to have regularly organized companies instructed intelligently in regard to the part they should act as servants of the Master, our churches will have a vitality that they have long needed. The excellence of the soul that Christ died to save, will be appreciated."
8. What is said of the burdens of our sisters?
"Our sisters generally have a hard time with their increasing families and their unappreciated trials."
9. What relief is suggested?
"I have so longed for women who could be educated to help our sisters rise from their discouragement and feel that they could do a work for the Lord."
10. What will be the effect of this relief?
"This will bring rays of sunshine into their own lives, which will be reflected into the lives of others."
11. What will God do for those who engage in this work?
"God will bless all who unite in this grand work."
12. What promise is given to the shy ones?
"Many . . . sisters appear shy of religious conversation. They do not appreciate their opportunities. They close the windows of the soul that should be opened heavenward, and open their windows earthward. But when they see the excellence of the human soul, they will close the windows earthward, . . . and will open the windows heavenward to behold spiritual things. Then they can say, 'I will receive the light of the Sun of Righteousness that it may shine forth to others.'"
13. What blessing have we that enables us to brighten the lives of others?
"We know that we have the presence of Jesus. The sweet influence of his Holy Spirit is teaching and guiding our thoughts, leading us to speak words that will cheer and brighten the pathway of others."
14. What are we urged to do for our sisters?
"If we can speak to our sisters often, and instead of saying 'Go,' lead them ourselves to do as we would do, to feel as we would feel, there will be a growing appreciation of the value of the human soul."
15. What should be the question of each?
"Teach our sisters that their question should be each day, 'Lord, what wilt thou have me to do this day?'"
16. When women come to know how much they may do through Christ, what will follow?
"If we can impress upon our sisters the good which it is in their power to do through Christ, we shall see a large work accomplished."
17. How may great victories be gained?
"If we can arouse the mind and heart to cooperate with the divine Worker, we shall, through the work they [our sisters] may accomplish, gain great victories."
18. Can women take any credit to themselves because of these victories?
"Christ must appear as the worker." "Self must be hidden."
19. What school must they enter, and what lesson learn?
"They may accomplish a good work for God if they will first learn in the school of Christ the precious, all-important lesson of meekness. They must not only bear the name of Christ, but possess his Spirit. They must walk even as he walked, purifying their souls from everything that defiles. Then they will be able to benefit others by presenting the all-sufficiency of Jesus."
20. What power is promised them?
"The Saviour will reflect upon these self-sacrificing women the light of his countenance, and this will give them a power which will exceed that of men. They can do in families a work that men can not do, a work that reaches the inner life. They can come close to the hearts of those whom men can not reach. Their labor is needed."
21. What assurance is given women who lack confidence, and hesitate to take up this work?
"The Lord has a work for women as well as men to do." "Women may take their places in the work at this crisis, and the Lord will work through them. If they are imbued with a sense of their duty, and labor under the influence of the Spirit of God, they will have just the self-possession required for this time."
22. What appeal is made?
"Will our sisters arise to the emergency? Will they work for the Master?"
Summing up what we have learned by this study, we find that a work has been begun among women, a good and necessary work, which will help them to feel their accountability to God. In order to feel this, they must know the value of the human soul. The Lord pities the overburdened mothers in their discouragement, and suggests a remedy. Organizing into companies to plan for definite work is recommended. By this means women, including the mothers, may educate themselves to help others. Even those who feel too timid to speak to a neighbor about Jesus, and who have nothing to say in social meeting, find that they can become workers for God. A blessing is promised to all who engage in this work.
The Lord has a "special work" for women to do, and when they become thoroughly aroused and active, "a large work will be accomplished, great victories will be gained." But amid all these victories they must be hidden; Christ must appear as the worker.
Let them reckon themselves as mere ciphers. Standing alone, they are of no value, but joined by faith to the great Head of the church, standing upon the right side of the great Unit of the universe, they become a power. In this way can "one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight."
The Lord is waiting for women to line up by his side that he may impart to them his strength.
Boulder, Colo.