We live in a changing world. We know not any day what new events wait on the morrow to be ushered into life's happenings. Kings and other rulers are dethroned overnight, and others are exalted to take their places. By the ever changing minds of men in the political, social, and economic worlds men are asked constantly to step up into new positions or to step down to give place to their successors.
And in our experience as a church this changing process has been carried out since our early organization. At nearly every conference gathering some changes in the personnel of leadership have been made, as well as at the constituency meetings of our colleges, publishing houses, and sanitariums.
It has been pleasing and gratifying to see with what spirit of kindliness and cooperation these changes have been effected. We have seen men and women step up into higher positions of leadership and responsibility in the spirit of humility, and those whom they succeeded step down in the spirit of kindliness and gracious- ness. This is ever as it should be. God is leading His people. He overrules in the affairs of men, and in all that pertains to His church and children.
It is unfortunate when a worker feels that he owns his position, and that no one else can fill it successfully. Oftentimes God in His over ruling providence places the humblest in a leading church position to demonstrate that di vine power can work effectively through those whom others count of little worth.
AN UNBALANCED ESTIMATE.—Unfortunately, and I believe only occasionally, we see some worker in the field of evangelism who feels that the highest achievement for which he should aspire is to become president or some other executive of his conference. If at last he acquires his much-desired office, and after filling it for several years is asked to give place to another and return to evangelistic or past9ral service, he feels that he has been demoted. He may have stepped up humbly, but he failed to step down graciously. But is it "stepping down" to less important work to relinquish executive service, and devote time and energy wholly to preaching the gospel? Nay, verily. There is no work more noble, honorable, or exalted than preaching the gospel of God's saving grace.
This was the grand objective actuating the ministry of our blessed Lord. He meekly and gladly stepped down from His high and exalted position as one with His Father in glory, and took upon Himself our nature, that He might bring to us eternal salvation. "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name." Phil. 2:9. The apostle Paul declared, "Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" I Cor. 9:16. The early apostles declared that it was not meet that they should leave the preaching of the Word, and serve tables. (Acts 6:2.) If all our young preachers, and older ones as well, would possess this concept of the gospel ministry, we would never see any striving for official position.
Our conference presidents are rendering very necessary service in overseeing and directing the work in their fields, both in local and union conferences. They preach many sermons as they go from place to place. Oftentimes they assist and even lead out in evangelistic efforts, and they seek to encourage every minister to hold frequent evangelistic efforts. In doing so they are magnifying the purposes of true leadership. It has been justly said that he who leads ten men to engage in active service is doing a greater work than if he did ten men's work.
AN OVERRULING PROVIDENCE.—Let us believe, wherever we are or whatever may be our work in conference or institution, that God rules and overrules. Let us believe that if we will but trust Him, He will cause all things to work together for our good. This will give to us abiding faith and trusting peace.
And what we have said of these responsibilities in the conference applies equally to positions in church and Sabbath school, and other departments of church work. If we have accepted some office in God's work in the spirit of humility, and have maintained that spirit while in office, we shall be able to relinquish the office graciously when necessary.
May God bless all our dear workers who at any time in their labors may be called upon to pass through any of the experiences or changes suggested in this discussion. May they step up humbly to any and every position they may be asked to fill, and may they step down just as graciously and willingly when this action is indicated, sincerely believing that an overruling Providence works all things for the benefit of His work and His workers.
