ADVANCEMENT!—Sometimes youngmen are fretful over the slowness of their advancement, and the failure of their superiors to sense their value. They have talents. They are alert, versatile, aggressive—possibly brilliant. They are fretful over the slower ways of the plodder and the conservatism of the old-fashioned worker with out as good a background or training. They wonder why their ideas do not register, why their plans and suggestions do not prevail. They for get that they are still immature, and possibly not to be trusted with important matters or missions. They forget that, ten to one, their ideas of today will be discarded for new and better ones tomorrow. They fail to consider that constant change is disconcerting to the people and often deflating to the budget. They forget that it is better to succeed with a poorer plan with the support of one's associates than to exploit a better one without sup port. Solidarity is frequently superior to brilliance, and steadiness is better than uneven spurts of speed. Reliability is better than rapid but erratic motion. Good judgment is to be desired above critical comment. These are qualities that the young worker must demonstrate. He is on trial. His advancement is usually gauged by the soundness of his growth.
EXPERIENCE!—Life is a schoolroom and we are all students, whether we wish it or not. Experience is the master-teacher—either some one else's experience, or our own. There are tests and there are examination days. There are grading-s and records. And we are all evaluated in the process. We can learn through hard knocks and the age-old process of trial and error. Or we can learn through the dearly-purchased experience of others. Through this procedure we can avoid many painful pitfalls and costly mistakes. This is available to us through the writings, counsels, and cautions of those who have traveled the way before us, and who are in a position to evaluate. Happy the worker who has a real friend of experience who is willing to serve as counselor and guide. And happy the man who will profit by these counsels instead of blundering through on his own—the hard way.
HANDICAPS!—Gum-chewing, slang, coarse allusions, fingernails "in mourning," noisy eating, spotted and unpressed clothing, and similar incongruities, are each and all offensive to the re fined. And when they intrude to blemish the life of a gospel worker, they serve to repel the better classes. If persisted in, they become unnecessary —and often unwitting, but nonetheless real—handicaps that must be hurdled before the message can make a favorable impress. The heralds of the third angel's message should stand out in neatness, cleanliness, and culture, using appropriate and acceptable speech, thus appealing to the finest people in any community. The greatest and most majestic message in the world should be borne in the most impressive and winsome way, by messengers whose every characteristic comports with its exalted character.
TANGENTS!—Some become so deeply burdened over a minor detail of prophecy or doctrine, upon which the Spirit of prophecy is virtually or wholly silent, as to make it overshadow all else. Mimeograph communications have been received recently on Daniel 11, Revelation 17, Armageddon, the daily, the time of the latter rain, the time of the second advent, etc. Molehills are magnified into mountains. The whole prophetic picture is distorted, and men spend time, energy, and money trying to settle some points that probably never will be settled until the events foretold actually take place. Fulfillment is the supreme interpreter of prophecy. Those who agitate themselves and others usually fail to labor for souls and to prepare them for the impending day of God. Let us keep our perspective. Let us hold things in balance and put first things first. Let us frown upon these unwarranted burdens and keep to our main task, refusing to be sidetracked onto tan gents. There are some details that can wait till the coming kingdom for explanation. These have little to do with salvation. Then we can spend all the time that we desire in solving intricacies that have perplexed. In the light of eternity many will doubtless be found to be of trifling importance.
JOKESTER!—Some workers play the jokester well. They are the life of the group, pouring forth a stream of witty stories, puns, and turns. They are expert in light chitchat that draws uproarious laughter. They are hail fellows well met. But when someone has a troubled heart and needs help and wants someone to talk and pray with him, does he seek out the jokester? When someone is about to enter the valley of the shadow and needs comfort and support from a man of God, does he send for the jolly punster? Thoughtful, substantial people want their minister to be serious and earnest. Nor does this preclude a sunny smile, a wholesome sense of humor, and a hearty laugh upon occasion. Somehow we can not conceive of Christ and His apostles as jokesters. People cannot believe that such a light role comports with the high calling and weighty considerations of the gospel ministry today. Let us choose between clowning and representative ministry for God, and banish the frothy element from our lives. Let us be sober minded in our walk before men in times like these.
L. E. F.
