Funding Irregular Lines: Ellen White's Teachings on Self-Support

The funding of irregular lines of work is to be characterized by individual sacrifice, self-reliance, and a departure from total dependence on centralized conference treasuries, as the Lord calls for a great army of workers to take up the work right where they areSpM 195.5+1.

The Spirit of Self-Support and Individual Effort

The foundation of funding for irregular lines is the principle of self-support, where laborers depend on their own abilities and the help of the Lord rather than waiting for a regular process or permission from the "regular lines"SpM 195.5+1. This model is built upon the biblical truth that the laborer is worthy of his hire, yet it emphasizes that many can and should sustain their own ministry through manual labor or business enterprises Luke 10:79MR 310.1.

• Manual Labor and Trades: Following the example of the apostle Paul, who worked as a craftsman to sustain himself while preaching, modern workers are encouraged to use manual labor to avoid being a burden on the churchWM 63.3+1.

• Agricultural and Industrial Pursuits: Schools and missions are instructed to utilize land for tilling, which provides both the means and the incentive for a self-supporting lifeWM 195.3+1.

• The Value of Industry: When students and workers earn their own way, they learn lessons of economy and the value of money, which preserves institutions from the crippling burden of debtEd 221.2+1.

Diverse Methods of Raising Means

For those working in irregular lines, God provides various practical methods to secure the necessary funds to advance the message3TT 321.2. These methods ensure that the work can move forward even when conference support is unavailable3TT 85.3.

1. Literature Ministry: Handling books that contain present truth is a primary way for students and workers to earn their schooling and support their missionary endeavors3TT 321.2+1.

2. Medical Missionary Work: Physicians and health workers can support their spiritual ministry through medical practice, provided they avoid selfish motives or private interests that draw them away from their post of dutyLLM 356.5+1.

3. Personal Contributions and Small Gifts: Believers are encouraged to save money usually spent on unnecessary dress or luxuries to provide “working capital” for missionaries in needy fields19LtMs, Ms 156, 1904, par. 60.

4. Soliciting from Men of Means: While the poor do what they can, God will also move upon men of wealth to provide the means necessary to carry the last message of mercy forwardPH005 34.1.

Management and Control of Resources

A critical aspect of irregular lines is the right of the pioneer worker to manage the resources they have gathered through hard labor and sacrificeSpM 192.4. It is not the plan of God for “regular lines” to exercise a selfish greed that forces independent workers to make over their property to the conference, as these workers need something with which to operate in new fieldsSpM 192.4+1.

The Lord is displeased when those in responsible positions enter a field established by another man’s sacrifice only to criticize his methods or rob him of his influenceSpM 195.5+1. True independence is praiseworthy when it dictates a desire to bear one’s own weight and not eat the bread of dependenceAH 374.1.

Accountability and Stewardship

While irregular lines are often self-funded, they are still under the solemn obligation of stewardship2T 128.1. Every individual is a steward of God over their possessions, whether they have much or little2T 128.1.

• Honesty in Handling Goods: No soul can practice dishonesty in handling the Lord’s goods and stand guiltlessCM 92.3.

• Avoiding Self-Sufficiency: Workers must guard against an independent spirit that leads to variance or dissension, remembering that all lines of work are part of one great whole11MR 306.5+2.

• Unity in Diversity: While the Lord calls for "irregular lines" to see if they will make a better showing than the regular ones, there must still be a spirit of cooperation so that the world may believe God has sent His Son John 17:216LtMs, Lt 43, 1890, par. 7+1.

The Reward of Faith-Based Labor

Those who step out in faith, beginning in a small, humble way without financial encouragement from the head of the work, will find that the Lord goes before them3TT 85.3+1. As they move forward praying, singing, and teaching, they will find favor among both the wealthy and the poor3TT 85.3. This experience of helplessness drives the worker to a deeper dependence on God, who is the donor of all we havePCO 37.3.

In conclusion, the funding of irregular work is not merely about money; it is about the development of a character that is "as precious as the gold of Ophir"ST September 18, 1884, par. 14. By practicing self-denial and individual effort, workers become laborers together with God, ensuring that their names are stamped on the books of heaven with the commendation, “Well done, good and faithful servant” Malachi 3:16-17SpM 195.5+1.

I would be happy to help you with that! I will prepare a sermon and a sermon outline based on Ellen White’s teachings regarding the funding of irregular lines of work for you shortly.

✝️ The Science of Salvation and the Call to Self-Supporting Labor

The cross of Calvary is the life-healing balm that reveals true virtue to a dying world15MR 266.1. We are called to gaze upon Jesus, who lived not to please Himself but gave everything for our redemptionCOL 345.2. The science of salvation must be the burden of every heart and the central theme of every message we shareChS 23.2. Today, we must understand how God funds His great work, especially through those called to labor in what are known as "irregular lines"16LtMs, Lt 109, 1901, par. 12. The standard by which to measure character is the royal law, which acts as the sin detector James 2:8-9. By the law is the knowledge of sin, but the sinner is constantly being drawn to Jesus by the wonderful manifestation of His love in that He humiliated Himself to die a shameful death upon the cross Romans 3:20. Angels have striven and earnestly longed to look into this wonderful mystery 1 Peter 1:12. It is a study that can tax the highest human intelligence, that man, fallen and deceived by Satan, can be conformed to the image of the Son of the infinite God Romans 8:29. God will love man, fallen but redeemed, even as He loved His Son John 17:23. This is the mystery of godliness, the groundwork of our faith, and it must be traced by human beings who have tasted and known that the Lord is good 1 Timothy 3:16.

🧒 A Story for the Children

Children, listen closely to a beautiful lesson about working for JesusCOL 345.2. The life of Christ from His earliest years was a life of earnest activityCOL 345.2. He was the Son of the infinite God, yet He worked at the carpenter's trade with His father JosephCOL 345.2. His trade was significant, for into all His secular labor He brought the same perfection as into the characters He was transforming by His divine powerCOL 345.2. Even the youngest child can use their hands to serve Jesus and learn to be a hard worker for the kingdom of heavenDG 214.1. God is ready to increase the capabilities of all who will educate themselves to industrious habitsDG 214.1.

🚶 Stepping Out into the Harvest Field

It is time that church members understood that everywhere there is a work to be done in the Lord's vineyard16LtMs, Lt 109, 1901, par. 12. No one is to wait for a regular process before they make any efforts16LtMs, Lt 109, 1901, par. 12. There should be many at work in what are called "irregular lines"16LtMs, Lt 109, 1901, par. 12. If one hundred laborers would step out of the regular lines and take up self-sacrificing work, souls would be won to the LordSpM 195.3. Christ will be with these humble workers, and the angels of heaven will cooperate with them in their self-sacrificing effortsSpM 195.3. Self-supporting missionaries are often very successful3TT 85.3. Beginning in a small, humble way, their work enlarges as they move forward under the guidance of the Spirit of God7T 23.1. Many will be brought to a knowledge of the truth who, but for these humble teachers, would never have been won to Christ7T 23.1.

🛠️ Funding the Work Through Faithful Labor

How are these dedicated workers to be funded when they step out into these irregular linesAA 355.2? God has ordained that many will support themselves through physical toilWM 63.3. It was as a self-supporting missionary that the apostle Paul labored in spreading the knowledge of Christ throughout the worldMH 154.1. While daily teaching the gospel in the great cities of Asia and Europe, he wrought at the trade of a craftsman to sustain himself and his companionsMH 154.1. Paul and his fellow-laborers worked night and day so they would not be chargeable to anyone 2 Thessalonians 3:8. Independence of this kind is praiseworthy, as it is a noble and generous ambition to be self-supportingAH 374.1.

• Agricultural Pursuits: In God's plan for Israel, every family had a home on the land with sufficient ground for tillingRH October 3, 1912, par. 8. Thus were provided both the means and the incentive for a useful, industrious, and self-supporting lifeRH October 3, 1912, par. 8. Students in our schools must be taught to raise their own crops, build their own houses, and care wisely for cattle and poultry23LtMs, Ms 13, 1908, par. 4. By learning to become self-supporting, they obtain a valuable education for useful labor in missionary fields23LtMs, Ms 13, 1908, par. 4.

• The Literature Ministry: Workers may take up the work of canvassing, and in this way introduce the truth into many families while sustaining their daily needs3TT 85.3. Wise plans must be laid to help worthy students earn their own schooling by handling these books3TT 321.2.

• Medical Missionary Solicitation: Medical missionary work is to accomplish wonderful resultsCH 540.4. Brethren engaged in medical missionary lines can obtain help by appealing to outside people, because theirs is not a denominational work9MR 201.1. They should not draw their funds largely from our churches, as the resources of the church are needed to support the gospel ministry9MR 201.1.

⚖️ Stewardship and Divine Providence

Those who build up properties and missions through hard labor in independent fields must be allowed to control their own propertySpM 192.4. Let no selfish greed force them to make it over to the ConferenceSpM 192.4. God will supply the necessary means as workers go forward praying, singing, and teaching the truth7T 23.1. Even the poverty of these devoted missionaries is a means of finding access to the people7T 23.1. As they pass on their way, they are helped in many ways by those to whom they bring spiritual food7T 23.1. The Lord is certainly opening the way for us as a people to divide and subdivide the companies that have been growing too large to work together to the greatest advantagePH113 22.1.

🛑 What Are You Going to Do?

Every sermon must bring us to a point of solemn decision before the cross of Calvary15MR 266.1. What are you going to do todayPr 68.3? Will you forsake your sins, lay aside your pride, and turn completely to Christ4T 258.1? We are living in a time of solemn responsibility, a time when consecrated work is to be doneLLM 356.5. Will you let the Lord work upon your heart to accomplish a great and grand workLLM 356.5? Look to the cross, let your heart be broken by the Savior's infinite love, and step forward to labor in His vineyard without waiting for human permission16LtMs, Lt 109, 1901, par. 12.

Here is the sermon outline:

The Science of Salvation and the Call to Self-Supporting Labor

I. The Foundation: The Science of Salvation

• The Cross of Calvary: Revealed as the "life-healing balm" and the central theme of the Christian message.
• The Purpose of Christ: Jesus lived a selfless life, giving everything for human redemption.
• The Standard of Character: The "royal law" (God’s law) serves as the detector of sin, while the love of Christ draws the sinner toward transformation.
• A Divine Mystery: The plan of salvation—where fallen man is conformed to the image of God—is a mystery that even angels desire to understand.

II. Lessons from the Life of Christ

• Earnest Activity: Christ’s early life was defined by labor, not idleness.
• Sanctified Trade: By working as a carpenter, Jesus demonstrated that secular labor should be performed with the same perfection as character building.
• A Call to Children: Even the youngest can serve the kingdom by developing industrious habits and working with their hands.

III. Stepping Into the Harvest Field

• Universal Call to Labor: Every church member has a work to do in the "Lord’s vineyard."
• Irregular Lines: Workers should not wait for "regular processes" or human permission to begin; many are called to labor in independent or "irregular" ways.
• Success in Humility: Self-supporting missionaries often find great success by starting small and following the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

IV. Methods of Self-Support

• The Example of Paul: The apostle Paul serves as the model for self-supporting ministry, teaching the gospel while working as a craftsman to sustain himself.
• Agricultural Pursuits:
  • God’s original plan for families included land for tilling.
  • Students should be taught agriculture (crops, livestock) and construction to prepare for missionary fields.
• The Literature Ministry: Canvassing (selling spiritual books) allows workers to share the truth while meeting their daily financial needs.
• Medical Missionary Work: Workers in this field can solicit funds from the public, as it is a non-denominational service that should not drain church resources.

V. Stewardship and Providence

• Control of Property: Those who build missions through independent labor should maintain control of their properties rather than being forced to transfer them to a central conference.
• Divine Provision: God promises to supply needs as workers move forward in faith.
• Access Through Poverty: A humble, self-supporting status can often provide missionaries better access to the hearts of the people they serve.

VI. Conclusion: A Call to Decision

• Solemn Responsibility: We live in a time requiring consecrated, urgent work.
• The Ultimate Question: Will you forsake sin and pride to turn completely to Christ?
• Immediate Action: Do not wait for human authorization; look to the cross, let your heart be broken by His love, and step forward into the vineyard today.