THE TRUE SPIRIT OF LABOR by S. N. Haskell

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, June 10, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 24

THE TRUE SPIRIT OF LABOR.

By S. N. Haskell

BY ELD. S. N. HASKELL.

The eleventh and twelfth chapters of Second Corinthians can be studied with much profit. The apostle here enumerates some of the conflicts and sufferings which he endured for Christ’s sake. The early church is commended for its zeal as no other church has been commended since the days of the apostles. In the book of Acts we have much upon this point which is very striking. In Rev. 2:2, 3, are these forcible words: “I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil; and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars; and hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast labored, and hast not fainted.” And yet he had somewhat against the church at Ephesus, because they had left their first love.

From the above scriptures we can form some idea of what devotion and zeal the early church possessed, also of what is required of us if we would meet the mind of the Spirit of God. We live amid the closing scenes of this world’s history. The last sands of time are fast passing away. And yet, right upon the borders of the eternal world, as we are, how little do we realize the importance of the cause we have espoused. Should we weigh ourselves in the scales with the early church, we should come far short of their devotion; and even their zeal and devotion did not come up to the true standard.

There are only a few who can speak of laboring with cheerfulness “in weariness and painfulness” in the cause of their Redeemer, while there are many who testify that they have thus labored on their farms or in some calling where personal interests only were at stake. Many have grown gray, and their countenances become furrowed with perplexing care, while serving themselves. This was simply for what they should eat, and drink, and wear. But few there are who labor thus in the cause of Him who left the royal courts and died that we might be saved.

Our missionary system presents an opportunity for each to engage directly in the service of the Master. Agents are wanted to sell our publications, and colporters are needed to enter thousands of cities and villages, to visit families and call their attention to the truth, and pray with and for those who may be anxious to know the will of God. Our sisters can also find a field of labor in remailing our pioneer sheet, and corresponding with those to whom papers have been sent. A number of the Signs should be taken in every place where any of our people live, and these papers should be distributed throughout their respective neighborhoods, or remaild to those whose addresses may be obtained.

The importance of this feature of our missionary work has never been fully realized. It has been taken hold of by many with the ends of their fingers, as it were, more as a speculative experiment than as becoming a part of their life interests. Missionary work should become so interwoven with our lives as to become a part of our nature. Then we can cheerfully labor in “weariness and painfulness.” Frequently the first inconvenience experienced in paying for the papers, or the least discouragement in consequence of not receiving responses to letters written, has been a sufficient excuse for abandoning the work altogether. A little weariness or some trivial circumstance prevents many from attending the meeting, from remailing the Signs, or from writing a letter. The missionary work thus becomes second to everything else. In not a few instances the words of the prophet have been applicable: “Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of hosts.”

God has committed to each of us a talent, and we are responsible for its use. Many have hid their talent in a napkin or buried it in the earth, and in the Judgment they will say, “Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed.” It is hard for them to deny themselves some personal ease or pleasure to engage in a work which yields so little in return,—to perform so much labor with so little profit. Its accomplishment would cost them time, care, and thought,—yes, and if they became successful workers, prayers and tears also. In some instances, the midnight hour has witnessed earnest pleadings with God that he would prosper the effort put forth. We know no reason why our sisters and lay brethren should not, in their sphere, feel a responsibility in working for souls, equal to that of the minister who enters the sacred desk.

We are thankful for what some of our Conferences are doing in this direction; but not one-tenth as many papers are taken for missionary work as should be used. Not one-twentieth is accomplished which might and would be accomplished could all realize the importance of the present hour. Could the curtain be lifted, and we be permitted to see the individuals in Europe, Asia, and even Africa, who are to-day rejoicing in the light of present truth as the result of remailing the Signs of the Times and of correspondence, it would encourage the wearied and care-worn laborers to toil on. It would inspire in the lukewarm a desire to become more zealous in the work.

DUTY OF OUR MINISTERS.

Ministers should feel a responsibility to educate our brethren and sisters in this branch of the work. Vigilant missionary societies should be organized wherever it is consistent. Our young churches as well as our older brethren and sisters are willing to labor when properly instructed. It is the duty of those laboring in the field to give them this instruction. There is not that close thinking and planning by ministers and people to advance the truth of God that there should be. In consequence of this, they are strangers to wearisome labor. It savors too much of work, for some.

When we consider the limited number of Signs now taken in clubs, and the hundreds of churches that are doing comparatively nothing in this direction, less than fifteen V. M. societies doing nearly all that is done, we are led to inquire, Is God’s providence in this branch of the work or not? Is he leading, and does he accept this kind of labor? If so, why should so little burden of it

be felt by our ministers? Then our mind goes over to England, Scotland, Holland, Italy, to every civilized nation of Europe, to the islands of the sea, and to Egypt, the birthplace of Moses and the asylum of our Saviour. We know that in each of these places precious souls are rejoicing in the truth of the third angel’s message, many of whom have never seen one of like faith outside of their own number. And when we consider that all this resulted from remailing our periodicals and accompanying the papers with proper correspondence, we answer, Yes; we know that God’s hand is in this branch of the work. His providence is over it. He has heard the cries of the praying ones. He has bottled the tears of those who have felt the burden of this work. Angels of God have co-operated with those who have labored in this direction with wearying and pains-taking care.

We have not followed cunningly devised fables in this work. No, indeed. We want to see a revival of that spirit which characterized the early church, the reformers of the sixteenth century, and those of later times, and even of those who in the infancy of our cause could fold and direct papers till midnight and not unfrequently till dawn of day. We pray that God will revive this spirit in the hearts of his waiting people.

Very much depends upon our ministers and tract officers, upon the example which they set, the spirit they possess, and the education they give to others. There is no other branch of the missionary work which is so well calculated to cultivate the spirit of self-sacrifice among those who cannot leave their homes to labor, as that of our vigilant missionary societies. Persons thus take the responsibility of finding interested readers for our papers, and if they persevere, they will gain an experience in the things of God and become educated to labor for others.