What Seek Ye? by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 5, 1912

What Seek Ye?

By C. M. S.

WHAT does the missionary seek in the highways and byways of heathenism, — the souls of the heathen, or the propagation of his country's influence? Whose ambassador is the man who goes to teach among the heathen “the unsearching riches of Christ”? If he is Christ’s ambassador, he will represent Christ and his kingdom, and all else will be subservient to that. If he has forgotten the import of his commission, he is almost sure to glorify the country from which he came, and extol the merits of his peculiar national civilization. But the true Christian who is an ambassador of Christ’s kingdom indeed, is a Christian without particular respect to nationality.

Christ’s ambassador can not represent him and any earthly government at the same time. The ambassadorship of the Christian is of sufficient importance to engross the whole time and attention and energies of the man who undertakes the high responsibility. His business is to teach the people the salvation of Christ, to represent in this earth — this foreign country — King Immanuel and the sovereignty of heaven. He can not rightly take the time to represent any other power, for the business of his Sovereign is urgent. The sovereignty of earthly powers must pass away, but the sovereignty of God is from everlasting to everlasting. Representing an earthly government or extolling its merits among the heathen is too small a business for him whom Christ has sent out in his name. Such work would be a double failure; Christ is not honored, and the earthly government is involved in difficulty with the people among whom he has sought to labor. The Christian, if he understands the meaning of his call, knows that he is abroad to represent the interests of the kingdom of heaven. His business is to seek the salvation of souls; and he, when in danger, will seek the protection of the One who sent him forth.

The missionary should weigh well the questions, Am I seeking the souls of men? or am I seeking the extension of an earthly government’s influence? Am I seeking to serve two masters, or one only, and that Christ?

But those who go to foreign countries as Christ’s representatives and gleaners of the gospel harvest are not the only ones who should ask themselves such questions. He who has taken the name Christian, whoever he may be and wherever he may be, has accepted the responsibility of a representative of Christ in this world. He has no more right to attempt to represent two masters than has the one who goes as a missionary to foreign lands. If we are Christ’s, — whether at home or abroad, — let us seek those things which are above, and exercise, wherever we are, an influence which heaven can bless to the salvation of souls. “What seek ye?” Let it be, first and last and always, the kingdom of God, the righteousness of Christ, and the straying children of the kingdom.

C. M. S.