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WILLING SERVICE

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Tuesday, March 10, 1885.

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 62, No. 10. Whole No. 1605.

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WILLING SERVICE.

By J. E. Merritt

I am so glad that God has given us such abundant evidence of his willingness to bless and prosper the cheerful laborer in his vineyard. I think the reason we so often see our efforts to do good prove fruitless, is because we bestow our means and service not willingly, but grudgingly. God loves the cheerful giver. The promise is to the willing and obedient.
We read that when Moses was about to build the tabernacle in the wilderness the people “came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering to the work of the tabernacle. . . . And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted,” with their jewels, precious stones, etc., and offered them unto the Lord for the building and fitting up of the tabernacle. All manner of gifts were brought in abundance, and more than were necessary, until Moses told them to cease their offerings, for there was sufficient. The tabernacle was completed; the Lord blessed it with his presence, and the people who had so willingly offered of their means and service were blessed.
When David was collecting the means and materials to build the house of the Lord, we read in 1 Chron. 29: “Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king’s work, offered willingly. . . . And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the Lord. . . . Then the people rejoiced for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord. And David the king also rejoiced with great joy,” that he and his people had been able so to offer of their means to the Lord.
Solomon came to the throne. Willing hands and hearts carried the work forward to a grand completion. Without sound of hammer that notable temple was erected, the grandest and most beautiful structure their eyes had ever beheld. The Lord accepted the offering so willingly made to him, filled the house with his glory, blessed the people, and made them again to rejoice. Other cases might be mentioned showing God’s willingness to bless the giver and to accept the cheerful offering. The Bible contains many of them. We know that our Father in heaven stands with outstretched hands, lovingly, patiently waiting to bless those who willingly and cheerfully bring to him their gifts, be they never so small.
A greater work than the building of the tabernacle, a far greater work than the building of Solomon’s temple, is going on in the world to-day. Men, women, and means are wanted to push this work forward to a grand consummation. The last message of mercy is being given. Soon its sweet notes will cease. Only a little time remains in which to sow the precious seed. Even at the eleventh hour the Master is saying, “Go labor in my vineyard.” Just at the close of the day though it may be, yet if we hasten and work with willing hearts, we have his word that we shall not lose our reward. Thousands of souls are perishing who might be saved by a little kind attention. It is not some great work which we are unable to accomplish that the Master wants us to do; it is the little ministries of life that we are required to perform. Visiting the sick, relieving those in distress; offering an encouraging word to the desponding, a word of warning to the careless, a prayer for this one, a tract to that one, a Bible-reading in this family, a song or a prayer in that one; a straight-forward Christian life before all,—this is what the Master asks of us. My dear brethren, shall we let souls perish for want of these little acts of kindness, these little deeds of love? If we do, we shall surely be lost. Others will step in to do our work and take our crown.
How many are ready to say with willing heart and ready mind, “Here am I, Lord, send me, send me”? Oh that these were the words of all our hearts! But you may say, “Where shall I begin this work?” I know of no better field to commence in than right in our own family circle. Let us make our own homes as near like the better world as possible. Let us learn to govern our own tongues and rule well our own spirits, so that none but loving words will be heard from our lips. Let our lives be such that all who come under our influence will acknowledge that we have been with Jesus. When we have accomplished this work for ourselves and in our own home circle, then there will be an abundance of work with good results elsewhere. Let none think that we have months and years to make preparation to work for the Master. Now is the accepted time, and we must not delay. If we feel weak, let us cry mightily to God for strength, for he never said, “Seek ye my face in vain.” Read the history of the Waldenses in “Great Controversy,” Vol. IV., and let the account stir your souls as it never has before. Oh that God would arouse us, and give us a little of the missionary spirit that dwelt in the hearts of those early Christians!
“Shall we stand idle, waiting for reapers more to come, while sheaves lie round ungathered, and waste upon the plain?” or shall we go forth like earnest Christian laborers to seek for the lost and rescue the perishing? In city and hamlet, in lonely dell, on far-off western plain, on the islands of the seas, in the houses of the rich and cots of the poor, are men and women waiting to be taught the truth and to be prepared for that glorious church which without spot or wrinkle must soon be ready for the coming of the Master. Are we ready to go to the work with willing hearts and ready hands, that we may have the rich reward of the willing and obedient? That God may help us to hasten, is my sincere prayer.
J. E. MERRITT.