Sharing His Labors, Then Entering into His Joys
By R. W. Parmele
In the strenuous times in which we live, we are in danger of becoming so absorbed in the affairs of this life that we shall neglect our duty to the cause of God. It is not that the Lord is so limited in resources that we are called upon to help in his work, but it is because he has taken us into partnership with himself in the business of saving souls. And thus having shared his labors and sacrifice, we shall be able in the life to come to share his joy over the results. He calls upon every one of his people to thus yoke up with him. To all who will respond, he will finally say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; . . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” The Lord does not need money to buy provisions for his workers, for he could rain upon them angels' food, as once he did. He does not need money with which to clothe them, for he could miraculously preserve their clothing, as he preserved Israel's in the wilderness. He does not need money for traveling expenses, for he could transport his laborers, as he did Philip, after the latter had baptized the Ethiopian eunuch. If he needed money for any other purpose, he could send one of his servants fishing, and get a supply from the fish's mouth, as once he did. Moreover, he is not even dependent on a human instrument, for he could lead people to himself and his truth, as he did Saul of Tarsus, the persecutor. But should the Lord do all his work in that way, none of us would have the privilege of entering into his labors and sacrifice. As a consequence, we could not enter into his joy when the work is done. To provide for this, the Lord has chosen “by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe,” and has so arranged it that money is necessary to the conduct of the work. So either by active service or by contributions, or by both, all may have a part. Then when the work is finished, all may alike enter into the joy of the Lord. What a condescension on the part of our heavenly Father! What a privilege is thus afforded us! “In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.”