The responsibility of the Bible worker is fourfold: Her relation to the message she bears, the example she sets, the influence she exerts, and the use of her time. The Bible worker bears the responsibility of giving the most important message that can be carried to intelligent human beings. But how disappointing, how futile, it would be to tell them of the Christian heritage, and not make clear to them how to obtain it! To inform men and women of the facts of sin, and of the plan of redemption and the restoration provided thereby; to make plain to them the prophetic utterances that reveal the relationship of earthly things to the progress and outworking of that plan; and even to convince them of the truthfulness of it all, is by no means sufficient. The Bible worker has been intrusted with a message that informs and also reforms. Her responsibility is to present that message in a way that will not only convince, but also convict and convert.
Christ not only gave the disciples the message they were to deliver, but He also gave them that which would enable them to give it with power. "Tarry," He said, "until ye be endued with power;" and, "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me." Bible workers must have the same baptism of power that was necessary for the apostles before they are properly equipped to give the third angel's message.
But even with the message fresh from the Scriptures, tactfully presented by the Spirit-filled Bible worker, not all who hear will be convinced, and of all who are convinced not all will yield to conviction. The Bible worker's duty is to give the message clearly, correctly, tactfully, and winningly. Having experienced its Converting and sanctifying power in her own life; she is to pi esant it as the power of God -unto al4;ation-ta-all- who believe. The results she Mug leave with God. It is her part faithfully to sow the seed, confident at all times that God will give the increase.
The Bible worker's responsibility in regard to the message with which she is intrusted places before her a high standard of Christian living. Her example must be such as can be safely followed, her influence must ever be on the right side. Next to the minister there is perhaps no one who can do more to lift up the standard for the people than the Bible worker. By the way she dresses, and eats, and spends her money; by her conduct in the house of God, and her manner of observing the Sabbath; by the language she uses, the forms of entertainment she chooses, and in many other ways she may do much to raise or lower the standards of Christian living.
God's standard is a pure, holy standard, and is for the perfecting of a pure and holy people, who are naturally looked upon as peculiar by the world.
It is '"true "there are those even within our ranks to whom the tinsel of worldly customs and practices has the glitter of pure gold; but this must never cause us to fail to lift up the standard. We must do all we can to raise the standard of Christian living among those already in the church, and must surely not fail to present the true denominational standard to our readers.
If we are ever tempted to lower the standard a little in some particular case or on some special occasion, we must remember that such a course is neither safe nor pleasing to God. In "Testimonies to Ministers," we read:
"Will those who preach the truth to others be sanctified by the truth themselves? Will they love the Lord with heart and mind and soul, and their neighbor as themselves? Will they meet the highest standard of Christian character? Are their tastes elevated, their appetites controlled? Are they cherishing only noble sentiments, strong, deep sympathy, and pure purposes, that they may indeed be laborers together with God?"—Page 162.
The use that the Bible worker makes of her time must always be considered. Will the conference committee tell me how many hours a day and how many days a week I am to spend in visiting and giving Bible readings? Is it expected that I shall get out among the people every day, in spite of the weather or my state of health?
One worker who assisted in an effort, never left home to visit until about 1 P. M., and returned at 5 P. M. There was need of more visiting, but she felt that she had done as much as should be required of her. Shall I follow her practice? Will not God hold me responsible for the use I make of every bit of my time? How can I crowd into one twenty-four-hour period the program of personal study, visiting, Bible study with readers, sleep, meals, church work, reading, writing, etc., that should have a place? These and many other questions might be asked and answered in the consideration of this phase of our subject. Each Bible worker must by personal study and prayer solve the problem of her own daily program. A few principles in conclusion will be helpful:
Time is a talent bestowed by God, and for its use we shall be called to render a strict account to Him. Constrained by the love of Christ, we shall not try to see how little time we can devote to actual Bible work; rather, our concern will be so to plan our work that we can crowd into the time at our command the largest possible amount of ministry to those in need of the gospel.
We shall not selfishly spend time in pleasure seeking, but if in need of relaxation shall rather seek for recreation that will conserve our powers in order that we may do more efficient soul-saving work.
We must plan for unhurried prayer and meditation. This is vital; for if we would give, we must first receive.
The members and work of the church must have some of our time, but care should be taken that we do not allow our program of church work to encroach upon time and strength that should be devoted to those outside the church. The more thorough the work we do with our readers before they enter the church, the less time will have to be devoted to holding them after they. have become affiliated with us.
We may expect to become weary. There will be crises when souls are being born into the kingdom, and we shall not be able to spare ourselves, just as the nurse forgets her own weariness or pain in a physical crisis, and labors only for the life of her patient. The promise is, "As thy day, so shall thy strength be."
In all our work for God, faithfulness counts. "Well done, good and faithful servant," is the commendation we long to hear from our Lord and Master.
Sioux City, Iowa.
